Trump signed the order privately on Thursday, aiming to reshape both the US and international waters as a counterweight to China’s overwhelming dominance of the world’s crucial minerals.
In the order, Trump stated that “the United States has a fundamental interest in maintaining leadership in deep-sea science and technology and seabed mineral resources.”
The order directs the US government to establish a procedure for issuing permits along the US outer continental shelf and to expedite the drilling authorizations required by the Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Resource Act of 1980.
Additionally, it directs the international community to be in disagreement with the expedited review of seabed mining permits “in areas beyond the national jurisdiction.”
The US economy will increase by $300 billion and 100 000 jobs over the next ten years, according to the White House, while deep-sea mining will produce billions of metric tons of materials.
Environmental organizations are urging the ban of all deep-sea mining operations because they fear the ocean floor’s industrialization could lead to irreversible biodiversity loss.
According to Arlo Hemphill of Greenpeace, “the United States government has no right to unilaterally permit an industry to rip up the deep sea for the profit of a few corporations.”
From a depth of 4, 000 to 6, 000 meters, deep-sea mining targets resources like potato-sized polymetallic nodules. The industry’s sectors use critical materials, including manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, and nickel, in the nodules.
Due to the industry’s growing dependence on China, one of the US’s largest trading partners and its greatest geopolitical rival, has become more and more politicized.
The US Secretary of Commerce has 60 days to “accelerate the review and issuing seabed mineral exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits in areas beyond national jurisdiction” according to Trump’s executive order.
The ocean floor is still largely unexplored, with the rest of the world still relatively unexplored. About three-quarters of the moon’s surface is still unmapped, compared to the seabed.
Deep-sea mining is regulated by the UN’s International Seabed Authority, but the US is not a member and has never ratified any of its relevant agreements.
The US is permitted to mine deep-sea in its territorial waters, which are 200 kilometers (124 miles) offshore, under international law. Trump is still using the “obscure 1980 law” that gives the federal government authority to issue seabed mining permits, according to The New York Times, making an additional push for international mining.
American Samoa, a US territory in the Pacific Ocean, has recently been the target of deep-sea mining efforts.
Source: Aljazeera
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