Trump authorizes export limits on waste to safeguard critical minerals

On July 30, President Donald Trump signed a presidential determination that activates the Defence Production Act to give the Commerce secretary power to limit exports of specific industrial waste containing recoverable critical minerals and materials. The administration says the measure will enable the reclamation and recycling of these elements from products like magnets and lithium-ion batteries, thereby bolstering U.S. supply chains and cutting dependence on Chinese sources.

This action continues Trump’s recent pattern of invoking the DPA, which he has also used to revive offshore oil production and support domestic coal plants. The authority mirrors earlier uses by former President Joe Biden, who leveraged the same law to promote domestic manufacturing of solar panels, transformers, heat pumps and fuel cells. The focus on critical minerals has intensified since China imposed export controls in 2025, prompting a broader trade agreement that eased some tariffs but left the U.S. seeking additional safeguards. By restricting waste exports, the government hopes to secure strategic materials essential for advanced technologies and maintain national defense capabilities.