President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, titled “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources,” aimed at accelerating the development of seabed mineral resources. The order cites national security and economic concerns, emphasizing the need to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly those controlled by adversaries.
The executive order outlines a policy to rapidly develop domestic capabilities for the exploration, characterization, collection, and processing of seabed mineral resources.
It calls for streamlined permitting processes, investment in deep-sea science and technology, and enhanced coordination among federal agencies.
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Key Provisions of the Executive Order:
- Expedited Permitting: The order directs the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior to establish expedited processes for reviewing and issuing seabed mineral exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits.
- Strategic Mapping and Data Collection: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is tasked with developing a plan to map priority seabed areas, particularly within the United States Outer Continental Shelf.
- Domestic Supply Chain Development: The order seeks to create a robust domestic supply chain for critical minerals derived from seabed resources, including new processing capabilities.
- International Partnerships: The administration aims to establish the United States as a global leader in responsible seabed mineral development and to partner with other nations, particularly allies, in their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
- Countering China’s Influence: A significant focus of the order is to counter China’s growing influence over seabed mineral resources and to ensure that U.S. companies are well-positioned to support allies.
- National Defense Stockpile: The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy are directed to explore the feasibility of using the National Defense Stockpile for materials derived from seabed polymetallic nodules.
- Financial support: The order directs the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the Trade and Development Agency to identify tools to support seabed mineral resource development.
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The order identifies critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, titanium, and rare earth elements as vital to national security and economic prosperity. It also defines “seabed mineral resources” to include polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, and other mineral-bearing materials.
The order also calls for the development of an international benefit-sharing mechanism for seabed mineral resource extraction in areas beyond national jurisdiction, indicating the administration’s intent to engage in international discussions on this issue.
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The executive order requires various agencies to provide reports and plans within 60 days, setting a rapid timeline for implementation.
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