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Economy

Trump Authorizes Expansion of Deep-Sea Mining to Secure Strategic Minerals

Friday 25 April 2025 - 09:31 By: Zahouani Ilham

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In a move that has sparked both economic anticipation and environmental concern, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to promote deep-sea mining across U.S. and international waters. The aim is to strengthen U.S. access to vital minerals and reduce reliance on China, which currently dominates the global supply of many critical raw materials.

Signed privately on Thursday, the order outlines a national security and economic imperative for the U.S. to lead in seabed technology and exploration. It accelerates permitting processes under the 1980 Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Resource Act and establishes a clear path for commercial mining along the U.S. outer continental shelf.

The directive also calls for fast-tracking permits in areas beyond national jurisdiction, a controversial move that could provoke tension with global institutions. The White House claims this initiative could add $300 billion to the economy and create 100,000 jobs over the next decade.

However, environmental groups strongly oppose the decision. Greenpeace’s Arlo Hemphill criticized the plan, stating that it risks irreparable damage to deep-sea ecosystems for corporate gain.

Deep-sea mining typically targets polymetallic nodules—mineral-rich formations found between 4,000 and 6,000 meters below the surface—that contain manganese, cobalt, copper, iron, and nickel. These resources are vital for the defense, aerospace, tech, and energy sectors. With increasing geopolitical tensions over mineral supplies, especially with China, the issue has become a matter of strategic priority.

Trump’s order gives the Secretary of Commerce 60 days to simplify the process for granting mining permits in international waters. Despite covering most of Earth’s surface, the deep-sea remains largely unexplored, with only about a quarter of the ocean floor having been mapped—less than the surface of the moon.

While the United Nations' International Seabed Authority regulates deep-sea mining, the U.S. is not a signatory to its agreements. Under current international law, the U.S. has rights to exploit seabed resources within 200 kilometers (124 miles) of its shores. Trump’s directive seeks to expand this reach by invoking a little-known 1980 law.

One of the areas being eyed for development is around American Samoa, a U.S. territory. Earlier this month, the California-based company Impossible Metals requested that the administration open commercial bidding for mining rights in these waters.