The Bureau of Industry and Security on Tuesday unveiled a year-long ban on exporting black mass — created by shredding batteries — and scrap tungsten, used in defence supply chains. Washington aims to secure military supply chains and reduce dependence on metals from China.

Donald Trump ordered the commerce department to draw up the restrictions last week, citing "inadequate supply" of certain metals posing "increasing risk to our national defense and security." Under the new rules, US sellers must sell only to US buyers unless an exception is obtained.

Tungsten, used in munitions, faces short supply due to global rearmament, wars in Iran and Ukraine, and Chinese export restrictions, with prices skyrocketing. The US has no active tungsten mines but some scrap-processing capacity, though experts say it's insufficient.

Black mass contains lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese and graphite, but US domestic processing is limited; much is recycled in Asia. US exports of tungsten scrap to Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and South Korea have increased this year.