U.S. President Donald Trump has shifted his focus from land-based resources in Canada and Greenland to deep-sea mining, targeting critical metals essential for green technologies.
Trump’s executive order seeks to fast-track U.S. seabed mining licenses, calling it “the next gold rush.” However, these resources lie under the jurisdiction of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), a UN-affiliated body.
According to Bloomberg, this has triggered concern from global regulators, with ISA Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho warning that unilateral U.S. actions could undermine international ocean governance.
Shortly after the order, The Metals Company (TMC) applied for a U.S. license to mine the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific, which falls under jurisdiction of the International Seabed Authority. As reported, TMC already holds two ISA exploration licenses through a deal with Nauru but is frustrated by delays.
Though the U.S. never ratified the UN Law of the Sea treaty, it passed its own 1980 law allowing interim seabed mining licenses.
ISA has spent over a decade negotiating deep-sea mining rules, aiming to balance resource access with environmental protection. Experts warn that fast-tracking U.S. approvals could bypass necessary environmental reviews, threatening fragile ecosystems.
