Trump Expands US Deep-Sea Mining

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to accelerate deep-sea mining for critical minerals in both domestic and international waters, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups.

The order aims to bolster U.S. access to rare earth elements—key components in defense, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing—while reducing reliance on China, which currently dominates the global supply chain. White House officials estimate the initiative could extract over a billion metric tons of seabed minerals, generate $300 billion in GDP over a decade, and create up to 100,000 jobs.

Bypassing International Regulations

The directive instructs the U.S. Commerce Secretary to expedite seabed mineral exploration and recovery permits within 60 days, including in international waters beyond U.S. jurisdiction. This move sidesteps ongoing efforts by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), a U.N.-affiliated body, to establish global mining regulations. The U.S. is not a member of the ISA, which has spent years negotiating environmental safeguards amid concerns over irreversible ocean damage.

Last week, California-based Impossible Metals requested permission to mine a section of the Pacific near American Samoa, exploiting a legal loophole by operating within U.S.-controlled waters rather than international seabeds.

Economic Promise vs. Environmental Risks

Deep-sea mining targets polymetallic nodules—potato-sized rocks rich in manganese, cobalt, nickel, and copper—scattered across ocean floors at depths of 4,000 to 6,000 meters. Proponents argue that harvesting these could reduce the need for destructive land-based mining.

However, scientists and activists warn that industrial extraction could devastate fragile marine ecosystems. Emily Jeffers, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, called the order “an environmental disaster in the making,” accusing the administration of sacrificing one of Earth’s least understood habitats for corporate profit.

Greenpeace’s Arlo Hemphill echoed the sentiment, stating, “The U.S. has no right to unilaterally destroy the common heritage of humankind for the benefit of a few corporations.”

Industry Response and Global Competition

Shares of The Metals Company (TMC), a leading deep-sea mining firm, surged 40% following news of the order. CEO Gerard Barron praised the move, saying it provides a “stable regulatory pathway” for the industry. Other companies, including China Minmetals and Russia’s JSC Yuzhmorgeologiya, are also vying for seabed resources.

The order follows recent U.S. efforts to fast-track domestic mining projects, including a major copper mine approval, as China tightens exports of critical minerals. While the administration broadly labels these materials as “rare earths,” an official clarified that the nodules do not necessarily contain elements like neodymium—key for magnets in wind turbines and EVs.

The push underscores a growing global race for underwater minerals, with economic and national security incentives increasingly outweighing environmental concerns.