In the 1984 science fiction film Dune, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen uttered the famous quote that can aptly be used to describe rare earth metals: “He who controls the spice, controls the universe.” The spice was central to the Dune universe, allowing trade to flourish and planets to prosper. In the same way, rare earth metals seem to be the spice today. These metals are used in almost every electronic device, from smartphones and cars, to ballistic missiles. In a sweeping move Thursday, China has tightened export rules on these critical materials, asserting dominance over the global tech supply chain. The new measures ... (full story)