Home›Commodities›Mining›U.S. to restrict exports of black mass and tungsten sc…

U.S. to restrict exports of black mass and tungsten scrap for a year

The Commerce Department says the temporary rule is aimed at securing domestic supply of recoverable critical minerals tied to national defense.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Mining

The U.S. Department of Commerce is moving to restrict for one year the exports of black mass and tungsten waste and scrap without a license, in an effort to ensure domestic availability of critical metals. In a request for comments on the temporary final rule, Commerce said the action follows a Presidential Determination under Section 101 of the Defense Production Act.

Commerce said the determination found recoverable critical minerals and materials are scarce, and that certain critical materials are essential to national defense. The department said the President authorized Commerce to use delegated authority to implement the determination under the DPA.

Under the rule, black mass, described as shredded metals from recycled lithium-ion batteries, as well as tungsten waste and scrap, will be sold only domestically unless an exporter applies for and receives a license. Commerce said the move is part of a broader effort to secure critical mineral supplies for national defense amid fragmented global trade and Chinese export controls that also apply to tungsten.

More like this

Sources