Former President Donald Trump already issued a controversial executive order to accelerate deep-sea mining exploitation. This targeted effort seeks to strengthen U.S. positions against China’s stranglehold on critical mineral supply chains. The executive order directs his administration to accelerate the processing of mining permits under the Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Act of 1980. It highlights the urgent imperative to source strategically important minerals such as nickel, copper and rare earth elements from the seabed.
The executive order coincides with a deepening realization that the U.S. faces an increasingly competitive environment for those critical resources. Trump’s goal is for them to be approved much more quickly. This strategy would set a strong precedent for any deep-sea mining operations in U.S. waters as well as activities beyond national jurisdictions. This initiative could not be a better fit for The Metals Company’s ambitions. This U.S./Canadian deep-sea mining exploration company’s goal is to mine the seabed of the Pacific Ocean for metals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese.
The decision has ignited opposition from dozens of countries and environmental organizations. More than 40 countries, including China, Russia and Britain, have raised their concerns with deep-sea mining. They’re concerned about its negative environmental impact and the ability to shortcut the regulatory process. Critics argue that Trump’s unilateral approach undermines ongoing international negotiations aimed at establishing formal rules for seabed mining by 2025.
Deep-sea mining utilizes large-scale equipment that tears up the seafloor to extract minerals. These precious metals accumulate in potato-shaped nodules, which makes them ideal targets for mineral extraction. It allows for immense economic development, and environmental advocates are raising alarm that this practice could have catastrophic effects on marine life.
“The United States has a core national security and economic interest in maintaining leadership in deep sea science and technology and seabed mineral resources,” Trump stated in his executive order. This is all part of our plan to push back on China’s increasing domination of the global seabed mineral resources.
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulates activities in an area covering approximately 54% of the world’s oceans. Yet it remains an underappreciated, key factor in shifting the balance toward exploitation vs conservation of these magical underwater landscapes. Trump’s EO expedites the approval process for seabed mining permits in the high seas as they are called, areas beyond national jurisdiction. Some analysts fear that this move will further inflame geopolitical tensions.
“This alignment of the private sector with the U.S. administration could escalate global geopolitical tensions over critical minerals and control of international waters,” analysts at Eurasia Group noted. They highlighted that Norway, which had previously considered seabed mining within its national waters, has now joined forces with China, India, and Poland—countries traditionally in favor of streamlining approval processes—to oppose U.S. actions.
Environmental advocates have decried Trump’s plan just as loudly. Arlo Hemphill of Greenpeace USA condemned the administration’s decision, stating, “We condemn this administration’s attempt to launch this destructive industry on the high seas in the Pacific by bypassing the United Nations process.” Hemphill had denounced the decision fiercely. He described it as “an affront to multilateralism” and “a slap in the face to all the countries and millions of people across the world who are fighting against this dangerous industry.”
The ramifications of Trump’s executive order reach much further than immediate economic gain. This would be a major shift in U.S. policy. The US is now pursuing a much more muscular strategy to secure mineral resources, as competition with China grows hotter. Critics warn that this could lead to unexpected country alliances against U.S. interests as nations rally around established international protocols.
As negotiations continue in various international forums regarding seabed mining regulations, Trump’s action raises questions about the balance between economic opportunities and environmental stewardship. The arguments on both sides are becoming sharper as the debate over deep-sea mining intensifies. Stakeholders are exploring the long-term impact on ocean health and international mineral supply chains.