The Impact of Trump’s Mining Order on Tech Metals Supply
Far beneath the ocean’s surface, in an environment where light barely penetrates, lies the uncharted deep sea.
Just 20% has been explored.
Scientific estimates suggest the existence of millions of species here, yet only a fraction — around 250,000 — have been discovered.
However, the deep sea is not only a biological treasure trove, rich in polymetallic nodules that harbour valuable minerals such as cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements.
With an eye on these sought-after minerals, US President Donald Trump has introduced an executive order aimed at intensifying deep sea exploration and mining activities to enhance national resource security.
The order, titled Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources, was signed on April 24 2025.
It reads: “Our Nation must take immediate action 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 defence, infrastructure and energy sectors.”
“These resources are key to strengthening our economy, securing our energy future and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical minerals.”
What can these minerals be used for?
The minerals extracted from polymetallic nodules form the backbone of various industries, particularly in green technology, aerospace and healthcare sectors.
Nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium are vital for the production of rechargeable batteries, a staple for numerous technological applications.
Moreover, these metals are integral to grid-scale energy storage solutions like lithium-ion batteries and more advanced chemistries that accommodate intermittent renewable energy sources.
The use of copper, germanium and rare earth elements spans several high-tech applications, including computer displays, wiring, fibre optics and night vision technology.
In addition, many of these crucial minerals contribute to manufacturing high-performance materials indispensable in the construction of aerospace equipment and stainless steel production.
Technologies such as solar panels leverage metals like copper and tellurium, which are occasionally found among these nodules.
Even hydrogen relies on these elements, with electrolysers that generate green hydrogen and fuel cells heavily depending on nickel and similar metals.
The controversy of deep sea mining
Extracting these valuable potato-sized rocks from the deep sea involves procedures that may jeopardise fragile marine habitats, prompting significant environmental concerns.
Jeff Watters, Vice President for External Affairs at environmental group Ocean Conservancy, said in a statement: “Areas of the US seafloor where test mining took place over 50 years ago still haven’t fully recovered.
“The harm caused by deep-sea mining isn’t restricted to the ocean floor: it will impact the entire water column, top to bottom, and everyone and everything relying on it.
“Evidence tells us that areas targeted for deep-sea mining often overlap with important fisheries, raising serious concerns about the impacts on the country’s US$321bn fishing industry.”
Nations such as the UK, Germany, France and Sweden have backed a moratorium on deep sea mining until a more comprehensive understanding and regulatory framework is established.
Major corporations, including Google, Samsung and Volvo, have pledged against utilising seabed-derived minerals.
Sian Owen, Executive Director of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, says: "Deep-sea mining presents major environmental, climate and economic risks, all for highly uncertain benefits.
"This is not a smart deal - it’s a gamble that would leave investors isolated on the wrong side of history."
Guo Jiakun, a Foreign Ministry Spokesperson for China, said that the area of seabed covered by this executive order “goes beyond the limit of national jurisdiction”.
“The legal status and the exploitation and exploration regime of the international seabed are universally recognised and followed through in international practice.”
China currently dominates the production of materials that can be found in polymetallic nodules.
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