U.S. To Restrict Exports Of Recycled Critical Minerals

Trump signed a Defense Production Act determination to restrict exports of recovered critical minerals and materials, including black mass, rare-earth magnets, swarf, and scrap.

The Commerce Secretary will have authority to enforce the export limits.

The move is meant to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign critical minerals, especially China, and bolster defense and industrial supply chains.

The action follows a GAO report highlighting recycling and substitution technologies as ways to cut import dependence.