The US has been reliant on imports for critical raw materials due to decades of deindustrialization, making it vulnerable in trade disputes, particularly with China. Recent export controls by Beijing on rare earth metals highlight this dependency. The EU is also seeking alternative sources for these materials while grappling with moral dilemmas regarding partnerships with countries like Rwanda, accused of supporting armed conflict in the DRC. The EU aims to increase self-sufficiency in raw materials by 2030, while the US is considering deep-sea mining to bolster its supply.