Agency. Apple has announced a $500 million investment in a partnership with US-based rare mineral exploration company MP Materials. Apple’s decision came after US President Donald Trump pressured it to manufacture its products indigenously.

As part of the partnership, Apple will now buy magnets made from rare minerals from MP Materials, which is believed to strengthen the supply chain within the US. In addition, the company will build a new reuse center in California, where rare minerals recovered from old equipment will be processed and those materials will be used on Apple’s new devices.

The plan is part of Apple’s $5 trillion domestic investment plan announced this year. The plan is also in line with President Trump’s campaign to build technology products indigenously. Rare minerals are essential ingredients in a variety of technologies, ranging from mobiles, televisions, and military aircraft. So far, China has controlled almost all such mineral processing.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “Innovation in America is at the heart of each of our work, and we are proud to deepen our investment in america’s economy.” Rare minerals are essential for the manufacture of state-of-the-art technology, and this partnership will strengthen the supply of such materials indigenously. ”

A separate magnet manufacturing line will be set up for Apple’s devices at mp materials center in Fort Worth, Texas. Supplies are planned to begin in 2027, providing materials to hundreds of millions of devices.

According to Apple, this project will create many new jobs. In addition, both companies will train American workers in magnet manufacturing, which will help develop the necessary manpower.

China currently controls 92 percent of rare mineral processing. Although these minerals are found all over the earth’s surface, they are complex and expensive to extract and process, so processing is possible only in a country like China.

President Trump has been urging tech companies to make their products within the US, not in India, China or elsewhere. “I’ve told the head of Apple a long time ago,” he warned on social media in May. Mobile phones sold in the US must be made in the US, otherwise at least 25 percent will have to be paid. ”

However, Apple has not yet announced a definite plan to make its main products within the US.