Free markets have demonstrably failed to provide the west with security of supply of rare earths.

Trump now has to beg for them.

China has granted a limited supply for the next 6-12 months - while China works on achieving 4 nanometre microchips.

State investment in strategic assets and supply chains is of huge importance to the wealth of nations.

Libertarians simplistic 'free markets fix everything' mantra is demonstrably irrational, naive and dangerously wrong.