Trump order enables export curbs to keep critical minerals in US
Why it matters: The move lets the Commerce Department restrict shipments of mineral-bearing waste as Washington tries to cut reliance on China.
President Donald Trump signed a July 30 determination that authorizes US officials to impose export restrictions on some industrial waste to retain critical minerals and rare elements for domestic use. The order uses powers under the Defense Production Act and gives the Commerce secretary authority over recoverable critical minerals and materials, the White House said. Those materials can be reclaimed from finished goods including magnets and lithium-ion batteries. The measure is part of a broader push to strengthen US supply chains after China’s 2025 export controls on rare earths rattled manufacturers. Even after a later US-China trade deal eased some tariffs and restrictions, the administration has kept looking for other sources of the minerals.