Press Release
November 27, 2025
- Global Environment
- Waste & Recycling
U.S.-Japan Critical Minerals ASEAN Supply Chain Seminar: e-Waste Recycling
１．The U.S. Department of State and Japan’s Ministry of the Environment co-hosted the “U.S.-Japan Critical Minerals ASEAN Supply Chain Seminar: e-Waste Recycling” , at the USA Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
２．This seminar brought together government officials, private companies (including manufacturers, metal refiners, recyclers, and e-commerce firms), researchers, and investors from Japan and the United States.
３． The aim of this seminar was to promote cooperation between the two countries on critical minerals through recycling, including e-waste, in ASEAN region and seek new business opportunities via public-private dialogue.
■ Detailed results of this seminar
１．The U.S. Department of State and Japan’s Ministry of the Environment co-hosted the “U.S.-Japan Critical Minerals ASEAN Supply Chain Seminar: e-Waste Recycling” , at the USA Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
２．The seminar built upon a two-year U.S.-Japan collaboration, which included similar working level seminars held on the margins of ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Jakarta (2023) and Vientiane (2024). These events underscored the economic potential of electronic waste (“e-waste”) recycling in ASEAN and its importance for resilient critical minerals supply chains.
３．The Osaka seminar followed the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on July 1, 2025.
４．The 2025 seminar convened government officials, the ASEAN Secretariat, companies (including manufacturers, metal refiners, recyclers, and e-commerce firms), researchers, and investors from Japan and the United States.
５．Participants deepened their understanding of the importance of critical minerals and the future increase in demand, the risks posed by the concentration of certain critical minerals and their refining capabilities in specific regions, and the potential and significance of metal recovery through recycling from e-waste. Participants exchanged insights on the current state and capacity challenges of e-waste recycling [also known as urban mining] in ASEAN, a region experiencing the world’s fastest e-waste growth rates. Participants engaged in a meaningful exchange of views on e-waste recycling in ASEAN, sharing their experiences and insights regarding the current situation and challenges in both institutional and practical aspects, pioneering initiatives undertaken in the region, innovative technologies and their implementation prospects, as well as the economic potential, future business opportunities, and investment possibilities.
６．Discussions emphasized the economic potential and investment opportunities of recovering critical minerals from discarded electronics to reduce reliance on primary mining, lower production costs, and create new business opportunities. Participants noted that these efforts can strengthen supply chain resilience by diversifying sources of critical minerals and mitigating vulnerabilities to market and geopolitical disruptions. They also recognized the need to advance the initiative in a manner aligned with the specific characteristics and needs of each ASEAN country.
７．The seminar underscored the strategic role of Japan-U.S. public and private sector cooperation in advancing resilient supply chains for critical minerals through e-waste recycling and the recovery of metals from discarded products. Participants explored ways U.S. and Japanese companies could jointly capitalize on the economic benefits of e-waste recycling, mitigate risks through collaboration, enhance the impact of electronics repurposing while reducing costs, and increase supply chain stability across ASEAN and beyond.
８．Building upon the seminar’s outcomes, the United States and Japan will strengthen cooperation on critical minerals recovery, processing, and streamlining export processes through innovative industry practices, new research and development, encouraging and supporting local ASEAN legislation as well as efforts under the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative. These activities will align with ASEAN member state objectives to establish resilient e-waste supply chains while fostering economic growth.
２．The seminar built upon a two-year U.S.-Japan collaboration, which included similar working level seminars held on the margins of ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Jakarta (2023) and Vientiane (2024). These events underscored the economic potential of electronic waste (“e-waste”) recycling in ASEAN and its importance for resilient critical minerals supply chains.
３．The Osaka seminar followed the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on July 1, 2025.
４．The 2025 seminar convened government officials, the ASEAN Secretariat, companies (including manufacturers, metal refiners, recyclers, and e-commerce firms), researchers, and investors from Japan and the United States.
５．Participants deepened their understanding of the importance of critical minerals and the future increase in demand, the risks posed by the concentration of certain critical minerals and their refining capabilities in specific regions, and the potential and significance of metal recovery through recycling from e-waste. Participants exchanged insights on the current state and capacity challenges of e-waste recycling [also known as urban mining] in ASEAN, a region experiencing the world’s fastest e-waste growth rates. Participants engaged in a meaningful exchange of views on e-waste recycling in ASEAN, sharing their experiences and insights regarding the current situation and challenges in both institutional and practical aspects, pioneering initiatives undertaken in the region, innovative technologies and their implementation prospects, as well as the economic potential, future business opportunities, and investment possibilities.
６．Discussions emphasized the economic potential and investment opportunities of recovering critical minerals from discarded electronics to reduce reliance on primary mining, lower production costs, and create new business opportunities. Participants noted that these efforts can strengthen supply chain resilience by diversifying sources of critical minerals and mitigating vulnerabilities to market and geopolitical disruptions. They also recognized the need to advance the initiative in a manner aligned with the specific characteristics and needs of each ASEAN country.
７．The seminar underscored the strategic role of Japan-U.S. public and private sector cooperation in advancing resilient supply chains for critical minerals through e-waste recycling and the recovery of metals from discarded products. Participants explored ways U.S. and Japanese companies could jointly capitalize on the economic benefits of e-waste recycling, mitigate risks through collaboration, enhance the impact of electronics repurposing while reducing costs, and increase supply chain stability across ASEAN and beyond.
８．Building upon the seminar’s outcomes, the United States and Japan will strengthen cooperation on critical minerals recovery, processing, and streamlining export processes through innovative industry practices, new research and development, encouraging and supporting local ASEAN legislation as well as efforts under the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative. These activities will align with ASEAN member state objectives to establish resilient e-waste supply chains while fostering economic growth.