U.S. Executive Order Spurs Controversial Deep-Sea Mining Plans
A Canadian company, The Metals Company, through its U.S. subsidiary, is set to become the first to mine the international seabed under a U.S. executive order bypassing UN regulations. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has deemed the company's application compliant, moving towards a permit by 2027. This development follows an executive order by President Trump in 2025, aiming to expedite seabed mining permits outside U.S. jurisdiction. The move has sparked legal concerns, as the U.S. has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which governs seabed mining. The executive order has been met with criticism from the International Seabed Authority, which oversees global seabed mining regulations.