Trump Administration Streamlines Deep-Sea Mining Permits to Counter China

The Trump administration finalized a new rule on January 21, 2026, to accelerate the permitting process for U.S. companies exploring for critical minerals in international waters. The rule, implemented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, consolidates licensing and recovery permits into a single review process, effectively halving the approval timeline. This action follows an executive order from April 2025 aimed at countering China's dominance over metals such as nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese, which are essential for batteries and electronics.

U.S. officials are issuing licenses under the Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Resource Act of 1980 rather than awaiting global standards from the International Seabed Authority. Industry leaders, including The Metals Company, praised the regulatory modernization as a necessary step for economic resilience. However, the move has sparked significant opposition from a coalition of 40 nations and tech companies including Apple and Google, who have called for a moratorium.

Critics, including the International Seabed Authority and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, argue that the unilateral action violates international law, exceeds national jurisdiction, and destabilizes global ocean governance. Environmental groups further warn that mining polymetallic nodules from the seabed could result in irreversible biodiversity loss.