Trump admin blocks tungsten, battery waste exports to boost US minerals supply

The action is the latest in a broader U.S. push to reduce reliance on China, which dominates global processing of critical minerals used in everything from EV batteries to weapons systems. Washington has increasingly used export controls, tariffs and domestic incentives to try to rebuild a U.S. supply chain, as tensions with Beijing over minerals access have escalated.

The order, published in the Federal Register, goes into effect on Aug. 27 and runs for one year, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security said.

"It's great to see the administration recognize the importance of recycling recoverable critical materials from scrap," said Zubeyde Oysul, a critical minerals policy manager at SAFE, a Washington-based think tank.