Technology Assessment: Critical Minerals: Reducing U.S. Import Reliance with Substitution and Recycling Technologies , July 22 , 2026
Technology Assessment: Critical Minerals: Reducing U.S. Import Reliance with Substitution and Recycling Technologies , July 22 , 2026
From the report: "The U.S. relies on imports for many critical minerals that are essential to the battery and semiconductor industries. But their supply chains are vulnerable to disruptions.
We looked at how substitution and recycling technologies might reduce reliance on imports. Battery recycling—extracting minerals from batteries for reuse—could reduce imports in 2 to 3 years. Policy options that could help reach this goal include establishing infrastructure for collecting and recycling materials.
By contrast, substitution and recycling may not reduce short-term import reliance in the semiconductor industry."
Authors - Government Accountability Office (GAO)Related Resources
