US Moves to Restrict Critical-Mineral Scrap Exports, but Copper Scrap Is Excluded

Published: Aug 3, 2026 09:28

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The US has authorised potential export restrictions on waste streams containing recoverable critical minerals, including black mass, end-of-life magnets and certain electronic waste. Copper scrap is explicitly excluded because it is already covered by a separate copper policy framework introduced in July 2025. The move nevertheless reinforces the broader trend toward domestic retention of secondary raw materials.

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