THE government has launched a survey of rare earth resources in seven regions, the China Securities Journal reported Tuesday.

The newspaper said the National Development and Reform Commission, the industry ministry, and the natural resources ministry began the survey in areas including Inner Mongolia and Jiangxi Province.

Local authorities in the surveyed regions must provide specific data and cases on major issues in protecting, developing and applying the resources, according to the newspaper.

China also asked these provinces to share thoughts and suggestions on how to improve the supply security of strategic mining resources like rare earths.

The campaign, mainly directed by the country’s top economic planner, might lead to a reduction of rare earth output and push up prices, as China is expected to crack down on illegal mining and trade of the critical elements, said the newspaper, citing an unidentified industry insider.

China accounted for 80 percent of rare earths imported by the United States from 2014 to 2017.

China is home to at least 85 percent of the world’s capacity to process rare earth ores into material manufacturers can use, according to research firm Adamas Intelligence.(SD-Agencies)