What are called rare earths aren’t rare and they aren’t earths, They are 17 minerals with strange sounding names like gadolinium and promethium.  Why care about ‘m?  Rare earths are essential ingredients in all sorts of civilian products from cell phone and ear buds to electric cars. Keith Johnson of Foreign Policy says rare earths are even more important for military technologies, and 80% of our imported rare earths come from China.  This might make winning the trade war a lot harder.