China has imposed export controls on critical minerals essential to Western defense manufacturers, affecting over 80,000 parts used in U.S. Defense Department weapons systems, according to data from defense software firm Govini and reports by the Wall Street Journal. These minerals are vital for manufacturing components such as missile magnets, infrared sensors, and drone motors. The restrictions have led to production delays, increased costs, and concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities within the U.S. defense industry. Beijing had temporarily eased supply after Washington agreed to trade concessions in June but has since maintained tight control. The situation has prompted U.S. defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin, to seek alternative sources globally. Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro highlighted that the U.S. lacks sufficient refining capacity for copper and rare earth minerals, which exacerbates the supply challenges. Navarro also noted that copper tariffs benefit certain domestic firms like Revere Copper, despite the broader refinement capacity issues.