The United States will prohibit the export of tungsten scrap and recycled battery materials, effective later this month. This move comes less than a week after former President Donald Trump authorized officials to retain potential critical materials within the country.

According to a new regulation published in the Federal Register, suppliers of tungsten scrap and "black mass"—a substance derived from crushed lithium-ion batteries containing multiple metals—will be required to prioritize sales to the domestic market, though they may apply for exemptions. The export restrictions will remain in effect for one year.

Trump signed an executive order last week granting officials the authority to impose export controls on industrial waste containing critical minerals and materials. This is part of a broader series of actions by the US to leverage the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to strengthen supply chains and reduce dependence on China.

The US Department of Commerce stated in the Federal Register: "President Trump has determined that the insufficiency of supply of critical minerals and materials constitutes a growing threat to national defense and security, requiring immediate action to secure the availability of recyclable critical minerals and materials."

Tungsten, an extremely hard metal, is widely used in military armor, ammunition, and precision tools in automotive factories. It is also among the metals subject to export controls by China. Meanwhile, "black mass," derived from recycled lithium-ion batteries, is increasingly becoming a vital alternative source for materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel.