Apple’s Investment in U.S. Rare Earth Minerals
Apple is partnering with the Trump administration to promote rare earth minerals, with plans to announce a $500 million investment in the only operational rare earth mine in the U.S.
This investment will be directed towards MP Materials, a Las Vegas-based rare earth mining company, as reported by sources familiar with the deal.
The White House views this agreement as a significant win for the Trump administration. A senior official noted, “This represents a critical achievement for a president who prioritized this issue. Apple should be commended for its proactive approach. It benefits the nation, supports American jobs, and makes good business sense.”
White House officials urged recognition of other companies that should follow suit.
The deal will also entail a new recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California, aimed at reprocessing materials for devices destined for future Apple products.
Furthermore, Apple and MP Materials plan to establish another facility in Fort Worth, Texas, for manufacturing magnets utilized in Apple products and various electronics worldwide. Apple has previously indicated a significant expansion of its manufacturing footprint in Texas.
This agreement, which includes Apple’s commitment to buying U.S.-made rare earth magnets from MP Materials’ Texas plant, follows the U.S. Department of Defense’s recent announcement of a $400 million investment in the mining company.
MP characterizes this government investment as a “transformational public-private partnership,” stating efforts have already started to “speed up the construction of a comprehensive U.S. rare earth magnet supply chain and decrease reliance on foreign sources.”
The collaboration between Apple and MP Materials comes after President Trump finalized a trade agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping, resuming the trade of essential minerals that had been halted earlier this year due to tariffs affecting China and other nations.
Currently, China produces about 60% of the world’s critical mineral supply and processes around 90% of it. Meanwhile, President Trump has made strides in rare earth mining and is working to enhance domestic supply chains as part of his national security agenda.
