WASHINGTON, May 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department has submitted a report to Congress on rare earth minerals as it looks to reduce American reliance on China, a Pentagon spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday, amid mounting concern in Washington about Beijing's role as a supplier.
"The department continues to work closely with the president, Congress and the industrial base to mitigate U.S. reliance on China for rare earth minerals," said Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews, a spokesman.
"The department recently submitted a Defense Production Act III rare earth mineral report to Congress, demonstrating the department's continued focus on reducing reliance on China," Andrews said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Andrea Shalal; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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