The rare earth question just got more interesting. Venezuela sits on substantial rare earth element deposits—largely untapped—that could reshape global supply chains. These are the exact materials the US was eyeing for tariffs against China back in October. While most of the world's rare earth mining happens elsewhere, Venezuela's reserves represent a massive wildcard in the geopolitical game. If developed, they could shake up everything from semiconductor production to mining hardware costs. The supply chain dynamics around these critical minerals aren't just an industrial story—they ripple across energy infrastructure and operational economics that matter to anyone watching the bigger picture of global markets.