NYT > World News The French Seaside Factory Trying to Break China’s Chokehold on Rare Earths Par :Jeanna Smialek 8 juillet 2025 à 13:12 The continent wants to reduce the risks of depending so heavily on China for the valuable minerals. The question is how. © Dmitry Kostyukov for The New York TimesA rare earth factory in La Rochelle, France, owned by the Belgium-based company Solvay. The plant produces crucial materials needed to produce modern cars, wind turbines and military equipment.