Overview

• President Trump signed an executive order authorizing large-scale deep-sea mining, including in international waters, challenging the International Seabed Authority's jurisdiction.
• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have been directed to expedite permit reviews and prepare a revenue-sharing feasibility report.
• The initiative aims to extract one billion tonnes of seabed materials over a decade, potentially creating 100,000 jobs and adding $300 billion to the U.S. GDP.
• The Metals Company plans to bypass international regulations by seeking U.S. approval to begin commercial mining of polymetallic nodules, which are critical for high-tech and clean-energy industries.
• Environmental groups and over 30 nations warn of potential irreversible damage to marine ecosystems, advocating for a moratorium on seabed mining activities.