The US government is restricting exports of certain lithium-ion battery waste and tungsten scrap to strengthen domestic supplies of critical minerals and reduce dependence on China. The one-year export ban requires materials such as battery “black mass” and tungsten waste to be directed toward US processing and recycling, with limited exceptions, according to Bloomberg.
Tungsten is considered strategically important because of its use in defense applications, including armor, weapons systems, and aerospace components. China dominates global tungsten production and has tightened controls on critical mineral exports, increasing concerns over supply security.
The move is part of a broader push to build resilient US supply chains by expanding domestic recycling capacity and securing materials needed for defense, batteries, and advanced technologies.
