On April 24, the White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump signed an executive order (EO) to “Unleash America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources” with a view “to accelerate the responsible development of seabed mineral resources, quantify the Nation’s endowment of seabed minerals, reinvigorate American leadership in associated extraction and processing technologies, and ensure secure supply chains for our defense, infrastructure, and energy sectors.”

The EO seeks to develop and streamline the United States’ domestic capabilities for the exploration and exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources without compromising “environmental and transparency standards.”

The US Administration sees this pursuit as strategically important on the international stage and, more specifically, as necessary action “to counter China’s growing influence over seabed mineral resources,” such as nickel, copper, and other rare earth elements from deep-sea environments.

Much of the EO focuses on establishing a process for issuing permits for operations within the US outer continental shelf but also calls for a more expedited review of permits in areas beyond national jurisdiction.