Western Star Locks 25-Year Surface Rights as U.S. Tungsten Rules Tighten
Vancouver, BC – September 18, 2026 -- China produced 67,000 of the world's 85,000 tonnes of tungsten in 2025, or roughly 79% of global supply, while the United States mined none for the eleventh consecutive year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Washington tightens defense sourcing rules from January 2027
The restriction under DFARS 252.225-7052 on tungsten from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea widens from the melt-or-production stage to the mine-or-ore stage effective January 1, 2027, and recycled material will no longer reset country of origin.