Deep-Sea Mining Firm Seeks First-Ever U.S. Permit for International Seabed Extraction, Igniting Global Debate

The Metals Company (TMC) has become the first deep-sea mining firm to formally request U.S. approval to extract minerals from international waters, capitalizing on President Trump’s recent executive order to fast-track seabed mining and counter China’s dominance in critical minerals.

Key Developments:

• Permit Filed: TMC applied under the 1980 Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, seeking rights to mine polymetallic nodules (rich in cobalt, nickel, copper) in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (Pacific).
• Trump’s Push: Last week’s order aims to bypass UN-backed regulations, escalating tensions with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and drawing Chinese condemnation.
• Industry Divide:
  • Republicans (e.g., Rep. Gosar) argue mining reduces U.S. reliance on China.
  • Democrats (e.g., Rep. Dexter) call it “subsidized plunder” with unproven economics.
• Environmental Alarm: Greenpeace warns of “irreversible biodiversity loss”, while MIT experts caution that impacts remain uncertain without strict oversight.

Market & Legal Implications:

• Glencore has already agreed to buy TMC’s seabed metals, signaling corporate interest.
• If approved, TMC claims its Pacific site could supply U.S. mineral needs for decades.
• The move challenges global ocean governance, testing whether the U.S. can unilaterally sanction mining in international waters.