Former Neo CEO Constantine Karayannopoulos will join an Atlanta panel examining America’s rare earth supply chain just days before two major Chinese critical minerals export control deadlines.
“America’s Race for Rare Earths and China’s November Reckoning” is scheduled for October 29 from 10:30 to 11:10 a.m. at the Critical Minerals Expo North America.
Critical Minerals Institute Executive Director Tracy Hughes will moderate the panel. Speakers include Karayannopoulos, now president of Kloni Inc.; American Rare Earths CEO Mark Wall; and Noah Lehrman, North American chair of the Minor Metals Trade Association.
The discussion will take place 12 days before the November 10 expiration of China’s suspension of broader export controls announced in October 2025. Those measures cover additional rare earth materials, processing equipment, technology and other strategically important products.
A White House fact sheet said the 2025 agreement suspended implementation of China’s expanded rare earth controls and provided general licenses covering rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite for U.S. end users and their suppliers.
A second suspension expires November 27. It temporarily lifted China’s U.S. specific ban on gallium, germanium and antimony exports and relaxed stricter reviews of certain graphite shipments. The materials remain subject to broader licensing requirements, while restrictions involving U.S. military users remain in place, according to Reuters.
Conference organizers describe two competing outcomes. Extending the current arrangements could protect American manufacturers from immediate disruption while reducing pressure to finance competing projects. Allowing the suspensions to expire could produce higher prices and delivery uncertainty but might also accelerate investment, purchasing commitments and domestic processing capacity.
Reuters reported on September 4 that some Chinese suppliers had declined to ship rare earth materials to U.S. customers because of geopolitical concerns, even when export licenses were available.
Karayannopoulos gives the panel a historical connection to Greenland. He led Neo when the company acquired the company holding the exploration license for the Sarfartoq rare earth project in southwest Greenland and positioned the deposit as a potential source of feedstock for its European rare earth operations.
Greenland Mines completed its $35 million acquisition of the project in September 2026. Neo became a shareholder in Greenland Mines and retained offtake rights covering up to 60 percent of future Sarfartoq ore or mineral concentrate.
Greenland Energy will attend the conference and report on discussions relevant to Greenland’s mineral projects and allied supply chains.
GreenlandEnergy.com provides independent analysis of Greenland’s energy landscape, critical minerals development, and Arctic geopolitics. For corrections or feedback: press@greenlandenergy.com
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