U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing restrictions on the export of certain industrial waste to preserve critical minerals and rare earth elements. This was reported by Bloomberg, as UNN writes.
Details
The document grants the U.S. Secretary of Commerce authority under the Defense Production Act to restrict exports of materials from which strategically important minerals can be extracted. The White House notes that significant volumes of such elements are contained in used magnets, lithium-ion batteries, and other finished products where they can be recovered and recycled.
Bloomberg notes that the decision is part of the Trump administration's strategy to strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce U.S. dependence on China in the field of critical minerals.
This is not the first time Trump has used the Defense Production Act. Previously, he applied it to support American energy, including restarting oil drilling off the coast of Southern California and supporting coal-fired power plants.
The Defense Production Act, adopted during the Cold War, allows the president to take measures to strengthen national security, including stimulating the production of strategically important materials by private companies.
According to Bloomberg, rare earth elements have become one of the key areas of U.S. policy after China imposed export restrictions last year. Despite reaching a trade agreement between Washington and Beijing, the Trump administration continues to seek alternative sources of supply for critical minerals.