Lithium and other elements that the US needs for vital defence, energy and other applications could become harder to obtain if the Trump administration goes ahead with tariffs and other protectionist policies aimed at China. China refines more than 90% of the global supply of so-called rare earth elements, which include neodymium and dysprosium. Not actually rare, these 17 elements are difficult to mine and refine because they're not often found in concentrated deposits. Some elements, like Lithium, are usually mentioned along with rare earth elements, because they are also critical for the tech sector. Without them, cellphones wouldn't vibrate and computer hard drives wouldn't operate. They're used in wind turbines, electric cars and other industries the US has sought to develop. The US imports more than 80% of its rare earth elements, with most of those imports coming from China. A trade war impacts cellphone and other tech companies making their products in China when they have t