China has grown to dominate the world’s critical mineral market in recent decades, having expanded the production of various metals and minerals around the world. Now, under President Donald Trump, the United States wants to decrease its reliance on China by mining its own critical minerals supply. Rather than going after traditional onshore reserves, such as the lithium triangle in South America or cobalt in Canada, Trump is looking elsewhere – under the sea.
Deep sea mining has been widely talked about, offering the potential to access largely untapped critical mineral supplies at a time when the global demand for these metals and minerals is rapidly increasing. However, several countries have been wary about conducting deep-sea mining due to the largely unknown environmental risk of such activities.
The Global Deep Sea Mining Landscape
In 1994, the autonomous International Seabed Authority (ISA) was established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to oversee and regulate global offshore mining activities. Its aim is to “ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from deep-seabed-related activities.” All states parties to UNCLOS are ipso facto members of ISA, allowing it to cover 170 member states, including the European Union and the U.S.
The ISA has long restricted deep-sea mining as it works to understand the potential implications of mining activities on marine life and ecosystems. However, there has been growing pressure in recent years to adopt regulations for the commercial extraction of critical minerals, particularly as several countries try to boost the metal and minerals supply needed to support a green transition. There has been a divide in the ISA and member states between those who support mining and those who are more wary.
In 2024, Norway announced plans to open an area of its seabed for exploiting mineral resources, although it made clear that this would not lead to immediate extraction, rather it would allow for a licensing round to commence commercial exploration. Norway planned to search for and map mineral deposits for potential extraction. The announcement was met with great resistance. However, in December, Norway paused its plan to open up its seabed for commercial-scale deep-sea mining as the country’s Socialist Left Party refused to support the government’s budget unless it scrapped the first licensing round, set for 2025.
Big Plans for U.S. Deep Sea Mining
On April 24, President Trump signed an executive order approving deep-sea mining operations, aimed at making the U.S. more self-reliant in critical minerals mining. The administration hopes to fast-track the production of metals and minerals, such as nickel, copper, and rare earth elements, from the seabed in U.S. and international waters.
The order states:
“The United States has a core national security and economic interest in maintaining leadership in deep-sea science and technology and seabed mineral resources. The United States faces unprecedented economic and national security challenges in securing reliable supplies of critical minerals independent of foreign adversary control. Vast offshore seabed areas hold critical minerals and energy resources. These resources are key to strengthening our economy, securing our energy future, and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical minerals.”
The move aims to “counter China’s growing influence over seabed mineral resources and to ensure United States companies are well-positioned to support allies and partners interested in developing seabed minerals responsibly.”
The order seeks to expedite mining permits under the Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Act of 1980 and establish a process for issuing permits along the U.S. outer continental shelf. It also seeks to explore seabed mining “in areas beyond national jurisdiction.”
Widespread Opposition to Deep-sea Mining
Trump’s decision to fast-track deep-sea mining has been met with criticism from environmentalists, scientists, and climate experts around the globe. The secretary-general of the ISA, Leticia Reis de Carvalho, issued a statement critiquing the move. “No state has the right to unilaterally exploit the mineral resources of the area outside the legal framework established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” said Carvalho in the statement. “It is common understanding that this prohibition is binding on all States, including those that have not ratified UNCLOS.”
This includes the U.S., which did not sign the 1982 convention which states that international waters and its resources are “the common heritage of humankind.” Carvalho says that President Trump’s order was ‘a surprising move’ considering the “more than 30 years the U.S. has been a reliable observer and significant contributor to the negotiations of the International Seabed Authority.”
Despite the global rush to increase the supply of critical minerals, member states of the ISA have continued to adhere to international norms on deep-sea mining to protect the marine environment from irreparable damage. Little is known about the potential repercussions of deep-sea mining and the impact it may have on ecosystems, as well as other secondary effects. Several member states are eagerly awaiting international rules on deep-sea mining from the ISA to plan future projects safely. This has caused ISA member states, environmentalists, and a wide range of other concerned parties to condemn Trump’s decision on deep-sea mining.
Stay In The Know with Shale
While the world transitions, you can count on Shale Magazine to bring me the latest intel and insight. Our reporters uncover the sources and stories you need to know in the worlds of finance, sustainability, and investment.
Subscribe to Shale Magazine to stay informed about the happenings that impact your world. Or listen to our critically acclaimed podcast, Energy Mixx Radio Show, where we interview some of the most interesting people, thought leaders, and influencers in the wide world of energy.
Subscribe to get more posts from Felicity Bradstock
