Washington, D.C., April 25, 2025 – The Europe Today: U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order aimed at fast-tracking offshore seabed mining operations, opening the door to increased extraction of critical minerals from the ocean floor, despite strong opposition from environmental groups and concern from international actors.
According to senior White House officials cited in media reports, the order directs the Department of Commerce to expedite the review and issuance of permits for mineral exploration and commercial recovery under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980. The directive is designed to unlock new opportunities for mining operations both within and potentially beyond the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
The order also instructs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to develop a framework for approving permits and granting licenses for seabed mining in U.S. coastal waters, applying the same legal framework long used for offshore oil drilling.
In a fact sheet, the White House described the order as part of a broader strategy to place the United States at the forefront of “critical mineral production and innovation,” citing growing national security concerns over global supply chains.
The executive order mandates several studies, including an evaluation of utilizing the U.S. National Defense Stockpile for minerals found in seabed deposits, as well as an assessment of private-sector interest in offshore mineral exploration and extraction. Furthermore, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Export-Import Bank have been tasked with exploring financing options for activities related to seabed resource development, including environmental monitoring.
The move comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions over rare-earth materials, following recent Chinese restrictions on the export of these critical minerals — which are essential for electric vehicles, smartphones, and advanced technologies — in response to U.S. tariffs. China’s dominant position in mining and refining such materials has prompted the U.S. to seek alternative sources.
However, the executive order has drawn strong criticism from environmentalists concerned about the potential ecological impact of deep-sea mining, as well as from international stakeholders. At a press briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun condemned the plan, stating that President Trump’s initiative violates international law by targeting seabed areas “that do not belong to any country.”
The order signals a significant shift in U.S. resource policy and sets the stage for potential legal and diplomatic disputes as Washington moves to secure critical mineral supplies amid rising global competition.
