• Trump signed an executive order to expedite permits for deep-sea mining operations.
• The move aims to reduce U.S. reliance on critical minerals controlled by China.
• Environmentalists warn that deep-sea mining could cause irreversible ecological damage.
• The U.S. will bypass the International Seabed Authority's regulations with this order.
• The anticipated economic impact includes $300 billion in GDP and 100,000 new jobs.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to accelerate deep-sea mining for critical minerals in both U.S. and international waters. The measure aims to establish the United States as a leader in seabed mineral exploration and is seen as a response to China's dominance in the global minerals market, including essential resources like cobalt, nickel, manganese, and copper. This initiative will allow companies to expedite the permitting process for seabed mining operations, potentially unlocking over a billion metric tons of mineral-rich deposits from the sea floor, according to The Hill, New York Times, and Newsweek.

Under the executive order, agencies are directed to expedite reviews and issue permits under the 1980 Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. This will facilitate seabed mining beyond U.S. jurisdiction, which has historically been governed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), an organization that the U.S. has opted not to ratify. Environmental groups have expressed concerns that this action could undermine international treaties designed to protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity, as highlighted by reports from Los Angeles Times and Al Jazeera.

The administration suggests that the potential economic benefits of deep-sea mining could amount to $300 billion and create approximately 100,000 jobs over the next decade, with ambitious plans to curb reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals. Gerard Barron, CEO of The Metals Company, emphasizes that seabed mining presents an opportunity for the U.S. to regain its footing in this vital resource sector, as reported by Le Monde and BBC.

However, environmentalists warn that deep-sea mining poses significant risks to rarely understood ecosystems. Oceanographers and conservationists have raised alarms about the potential for irreversible damage to marine habitats. According to scientific inputs, mining can create sediment plumes that suffocate marine life and disrupt food webs, as outlined by researchers in statements reported by NPR and Reuters.

As this controversial order takes effect, the deep-sea mining industry faces both great potential and significant opposition, with the U.S. positioning itself amidst complex international dynamics surrounding resource extraction and environmental stewardship. The legal and ecological implications of this development continue to unfold in real-time, engaging various stakeholders from governmental, corporate, and environmental sectors, according to The Jakarta Post and Newsweek.