Pentagon, rare earths
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The Defense Department on Thursday became the largest shareholder in MP Materials, which owns the only rare earth mine in the U.S., amid a surge in demand for rare earths mined in the U.S. as China has curbed its rare earth exports amid a trade war with the U.S.
Rare-earth firm MP Materials (MP) stock is skyrocketing after the company announced a deal for the US Department of Defense to buy $400 million of company shares. The Pentagon will be the company's largest shareholder as part of the US government's efforts to reduce China's rare earth metal dominance.
James Litinsky, MP Materials chairman and CEO, joins CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss the company's deal with the Defense Department, in which the Pentagon will become the largest shareholder in the rare earth miner.
MP Materials announces a public-private partnership with the US Department of Defense to accelerate the build-out of an end-to-end US rare earth magnet supply chain.
Apple has signed a $500 million deal with MP Materials for rare earth magnets, mitigating supply risks after China curbed exports this year and representing a major coup for MP that sent its shares soaring by a fifth.