Considering that many of the ‘rare earth’ elements were discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries from ore that originated from Sweden, I’m simply shocked!

BTW, the US has large ore deposits of these elements too. Much of the rare earth ores also contain thorium, a radioactive element. When the US enacted environmental regulations requiring the safe disposition of the thorium contaminate, the production cost in the US increased. US mines shut down and mining and production moved offshore.