China currently produces 97% of the world's rare earths, vital in the manufacture of mobile phones and other high-tech products.

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Chinese mobile device maker HTC has been chosen to manufacture two new Facebook -branded smartphones, according to London financial newspaper City A.M.

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As a result, HTC was ready when Western firms came looking for somebody to design and manufacture high-end hand-helds and mobile phones for them.

ECONOMIST: Face value

GammaTech Computer Corporation is a leader in the design, manufacture and sales of cost-effective, high-performance mobile computing solutions throughout North America.

ENGADGET: GammaTech rugged T7Q launches at $2k and up, promptly steals your iPad's lunch money

Principle Operations: Manufacture of interchangeable lenses for digital SLR cameras, lens blocks and mobile phones.

ENGADGET: Sony restructuring in Japan: camera lens plant to close with loss of 2,000 jobs

Mobile supply chains are now so complex that Apple is being forced to onshore some manufacture to reduce its exposure to supply chain disruption.

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