At the time China controlled 93% of global rare-earth production and more than 99% of the most valuable heavy rare earths. By 2014 China’s market share of rare earths had fallen from more than 90% to about 70%. Despite their name, rare earths are quite abundant. Rare earths are “rare” because of geochemical dispersion. Similarly, free trade and friendly relations with allies who produce rare earths at scale, such as Canada, should be a higher priority than unrealistic and counterproductive spats over national sovereignty and illegal border crossings.