China calls Trump deep-sea mining order unlawful

Chinese authorities on Friday condemned President Donald Trump’s executive order to expand deep-sea mining, calling it a violation of international law.

Signed in private, the order aims to accelerate the mining of critical minerals in both US and international waters, part of a broader strategy to counter China’s dominance in the global supply of these resources.

“The US authorization… violates international law and harms the overall interests of the international community,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, the BBC reported.

The move has stirred international criticism, especially over its provision to allow seabed exploration beyond US jurisdiction. Deep-sea mining has increasingly come into focus as countries seek access to valuable metals like nickel, manganese, and cobalt — key components in batteries for electric vehicles and smartphones.

Estimates suggest the ocean floor holds between $8 trillion and $16 trillion worth of these metals. In US waters alone, more than a billion metric tons of mineral-rich nodules could be extracted, potentially adding $300 billion to its GDP over a decade and creating 100,000 jobs, according to administration officials.

“The United States has a core national security and economic interest in maintaining leadership in deep-sea science and technology and seabed mineral resources,” Trump stated in the order.

The directive calls for fast-tracking permits under the 1980 Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act and sets up a permitting process along the US Outer Continental Shelf. It also pushes for quicker review of applications to mine in international waters — a move expected to trigger push back from the global community.

“We want the US to get ahead of China in this resource space under the ocean, on the ocean bottom,” a US official told the BBC.

Environmental groups remain critical of seabed mining, warning it could irreparably damage fragile marine ecosystems that are still poorly understood and already stressed by pollution, industrial trawling and climate change.

In a recent interview, Gerard Barron, CEO of The Metals Company (TMC), told MINING.COM that the US government’s renewed emphasis on domestic mineral production is well-timed.

“Mineral security is really important for critical minerals, and many in the new administration have been tremendous supporters,” Barron said. “So we’re going into 2025 thinking this will be a breakout year.”

TMC, which is partnered with the Republic of Nauru, plans to submit its first application to begin mining operations on June 27, just ahead of the International Seabed Authority’s next meeting in July.