The United States is now following in Japan's footsteps!
After Japan began dismantling air conditioners to extract rare earth elements, the United States has also turned its attention to "e-waste." On July 30, Trump signed an executive order authorizing federal officials to block the export of e-waste, promoting domestic recycling and reuse.
Today, the U.S. is going to extreme lengths to "de-Chinify" its supply chains—so much so that federal regulations now require manufacturers in defense industries and other critical sectors to cease purchasing key materials like rare earths and tungsten from China by January 1, 2027.
However, building new mines and processing facilities takes time and cannot meet immediate needs. As a result, recycling electronic waste has become the most viable short-term solution. Moreover, this strategy could revitalize America’s recycling industry.
While recycling may alleviate some pressure in the short term, it cannot fundamentally resolve the U.S.'s dependence on China in the processing of critical minerals. In practice, large-scale recovery remains extremely difficult due to limitations in U.S. industrial infrastructure.
Indeed, this move by the United States might disrupt the global e-waste recycling chain, drive up prices for related raw materials in international markets, and intensify global competition for critical minerals.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872202278342794/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.