Malaysia's energy and environment ministry had set conditions in December for Lynas to remove its waste stockpiles before it would renew its licence.

Trump invoked the 69-year-old Defense Production Act -- once used to preserve American steelmaking capacity -- to remedy what he called “a shortfall” in production of the super-strong magnets made with neodymium and samarium.

The East Kootenay coal deposits and coal tailings facilities may contain some of the 17 metals that are critical for everyday electronic components.

The Pentagon wants miners to describe plans to develop U.S. rare earths mines and processing facilities, and asked manufacturers to detail their needs for the minerals.

Exports of the group of 17 chemical elements used in everything from high-tech consumer electronics to military equipment came in at 3,966 tonnes last month.

Rising trade tensions between the United States and China have sparked concerns that Beijing could leverage its dominant position as a supplier of rare earths.

Power Resources Group mines in Rwanda for tantalum, used in mobile phones, and niobium, needed for high-strength alloys.