US access to Myanmar's rare earths faces obstacles because key heavy rare-earth deposits in Kachin State are controlled by the Kachin Independence Army and China dominates processing.

From the articleUS holds secret talks with Myanmar junta as Trump eyes rare earths: ReportAlso in Commodities and Futures News - Investing.com, US quietly re-engages with Myanmar regime in major reversal of post-coup policy, US holds secret Myanmar talks as rare earth minerals at stake