Government support for MP Materials could set a precedent.
In July, news broke that the U.S. Department of Defense would invest in MP Materials, the country’s only rare earth producer that also mines its own raw materials. As part of the agreement, the government is offering price guarantees for certain rare earth products, well above current market rates. The goal: to establish a domestic rare earth industry independent of China, the current global leader in the sector.
Industry insiders suggest these guarantees may not remain a one-off. According to an exclusive Reuters report, a late-July meeting brought together government officials, mining companies, and downstream manufacturers to discuss the concept of minimum pricing. While Peter Navarro, trade advisor to President Donald Trump, confirmed the meeting, he declined to comment on its specific content. Among the participants was tech giant Apple, which recently announced a collaboration with MP Materials.
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