The Trump administration is reportedly preparing an executive order that could accelerate deep-sea mining operations in international waters by allowing companies to bypass the United Nations-backed International Seabed Authority (ISA). According to individuals familiar with the discussions, the proposal would create a new pathway for mining companies to seek permits through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), rather than waiting for the ISA to finalize its long-delayed regulatory framework.
The ISA, which was established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, has been debating mining standards for years. Its 36-member council met earlier this month in Jamaica to review amendments to a proposed mining code but ended without reaching an agreement. With the U.S. never having ratified the convention, the Trump administration now appears poised to offer an alternative process through its own regulatory structure, leveraging the 1980 Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act.
The development comes amid growing tensions between national interests and multilateral governance. The Canadian-based firm The Metals Company (TMC), backed by global mining group Glencore, is at the forefront of lobbying for U.S. permits. TMC has expressed frustration with the ISA’s slow progress and has begun applying for licenses under U.S. jurisdiction. CEO Gerard Barron said his company has the data and environmental plans necessary to move forward and simply needs a fair and timely review from a competent regulator.
Critics, however, argue that the move is premature and dangerous. Environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, have issued strong condemnations, calling TMC’s actions reckless and harmful to international cooperation. Many scientists and over 30 national governments are calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, citing concerns about marine biodiversity and the long-term impact of underwater mineral extraction.
Leticia Carvalho, the secretary general of the ISA, expressed alarm over efforts to sidestep the Authority’s oversight. She emphasized that any activity in international waters must occur under the ISA’s legal framework, warning that unilateral actions could violate international law and weaken the collective approach established to protect ocean ecosystems.
Despite the controversy, support for fast-tracking mining appears to be growing among proponents of resource independence. Trump has repeatedly emphasized the importance of accessing global mineral reserves to bolster domestic industries, especially those tied to renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. Deep-sea deposits contain essential materials like nickel, copper, and cobalt—metals crucial for batteries and electronics.
While countries are free to permit mining within their own exclusive economic zones, operations beyond 200 nautical miles from shore are subject to ISA jurisdiction. The Trump administration’s push to establish a U.S.-based alternative to that process signals a broader realignment away from international bodies seen as inefficient or adversarial.
As of now, the executive order has not been signed, and the final terms remain under discussion. But with TMC already conducting exploration in areas such as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean, the prospect of U.S.-sanctioned mining in international waters is quickly becoming a real possibility—and a flashpoint for debate about ocean governance, environmental protection, and national interest.
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