US bans export of tungsten scrap and battery waste for one year

US export ban tungsten scrap black mass critical minerals recycling

The U.S. Commerce Department announced a rule that will block exports of tungsten scrap and "black mass"—shredded lithium‑ion battery material—effective August 27 for a twelve‑month period. The measure follows a presidential order signed by Donald Trump under the Defense Production Act, giving the administration authority to limit overseas shipment of critical mineral‑rich waste to China and other countries. Waivers can be granted only on a case‑by‑case basis for companies that demonstrate undue hardship or irreparable harm.

The ban aims to strengthen domestic recycling and critical‑mineral supply chains for defense, advanced manufacturing and clean‑energy technologies. The United States currently imports most of its tungsten and relies heavily on China for processing of critical minerals; it accounts for roughly 9 % of global black‑mass production capacity. Tungsten prices have surged more than 500 % in the past year amid Chinese export controls and tight supply. Industry players such as Li‑Cycle and Ascend Elements have recently filed for bankruptcy, while firms like Amermin view the ban as a temporary “band‑aid” that buys time for expanding U.S. recycling capacity.

Entities: Defense Production Act · Department of Commerce · Donald Trump · U.S. Department of Commerce · United States · black mass · tungsten

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 7 SOURCES] The U.S. Commerce Department announced a rule to block exports of tungsten scrap and black mass for one year, effective August 27. (U.S. Commerce Department rule announcement)
[● 5 SOURCES] The ban is authorized by a presidential order signed by Donald Trump under the Defense Production Act. (Presidential order)
[● 4 SOURCES] Waivers may be granted on a case‑by‑case basis for companies that demonstrate undue hardship or irreparable harm. (Export rule details)
[● 3 SOURCES] The United States imports most of its tungsten and relies heavily on China for processing of critical minerals. (Industry context)
[● 2 SOURCES] Tungsten prices have risen more than 500 % in the past year due to export restrictions and supply constraints. (Market data)
[● 3 SOURCES] Black mass contains lithium, cobalt, nickel and other metals recovered from shredded lithium‑ion batteries. (Material description)
[● 3 SOURCES] Li‑Cycle and Ascend Elements filed for bankruptcy in the past 18 months. (Industry reports)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The United States accounted for about 9 % of global black‑mass production capacity in the first quarter of 2026. (Bloomberg data)