Trump Plans Deep-Sea Metals Stockpiles With a Warning From China

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Tensions between Washington and Beijing have elevated rare earth elements and critical minerals to the level of strategic assets. These materials, such as cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earths like neodymium and dysprosium, are essential for national defense, clean energy technologies, and advanced electronics.

China currently processes about 90 percent of the world’s rare earth elements. This dominance gives it considerable leverage over global supply chains, including those critical to the US military and renewable energy sectors. In April 2025, China suspended exports of several heavy rare earth elements, causing immediate disruption to multiple industries.

Washington’s deep-sea stockpile strategy takes shape

The Trump administration is preparing a draft executive order to create a strategic stockpile of minerals sourced from the Pacific seabed. The aim is to reduce reliance on Chinese mineral exports and secure domestic access to materials such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese.

This marks a shift in US resource security planning. Rather than depending solely on terrestrial mining or allied imports, the US government is exploring unexploited deep-sea deposits as a long-term supply option.

The executive order is expected to direct federal agencies to streamline permitting processes and encourage private-sector engagement in deep-sea exploration. These efforts are intended to support the development of a reliable and sovereign supply chain for critical minerals.

How deep-sea mining could reshape the supply chain

Deep-sea mining presents both opportunities and risks. The Pacific Ocean seabed contains vast deposits of polymetallic nodules, but extracting them remains technologically and environmentally complex. Much of the required infrastructure is still in the early stages of development.

Environmental advocates warn that seabed mining could disturb fragile ecosystems. Critics argue that damage to deep-sea habitats may be irreversible, while others contend that strict regulation and monitoring can reduce potential harm.

Several countries, including Japan and Norway, have begun exploratory initiatives. US companies such as The Metals Company and Ocean Minerals have acquired international licenses and are testing technologies that could be scaled if regulatory conditions permit.

If the executive order is enacted, it may provide momentum for commercial investment in undersea mineral development. This could position the US as a leader in a new phase of resource extraction.

China’s response and the legal fault lines

China has issued a formal response to the United States’ reported plans to build a strategic stockpile of deep-sea metals, calling on Washington to adhere to established international legal frameworks. The Chinese foreign ministry stated that all countries are obligated to conduct exploration and development of deep-sea resources in international waters under the legal authority of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

“The seabed and ocean floor, as well as their subsoil beyond national jurisdiction, belong to all mankind,” said a spokesperson from the ministry. They further warned that bypassing the ISA or conducting unilateral exploration in international waters would be considered a violation of global consensus and risk undermining international maritime governance.

China also took the opportunity to position itself as a rule-abiding stakeholder in seabed governance, stating that it actively supports the work of the ISA and encourages all countries, including the US, to cooperate under legal norms rather than pursue unilateral gain. The ISA, which is based in Jamaica, is the sole global body with a mandate to regulate the mineral-related activities in the international seabed area. It operates under UNCLOS, which the United States has not ratified, despite aligning with many of its provisions in practice.

This development signals that legal interpretations of international seabed rights may soon become a flashpoint in US–China relations. If Washington proceeds with its stockpile plans outside ISA procedures, the resulting friction could extend from diplomatic forums to broader geopolitical arenas, including trade and maritime policy.

The dispute highlights broader legal uncertainties surrounding the governance of deep-sea mining. With increasing interest from national governments and private actors, regulatory frameworks may soon face significant pressure. Environmental oversight, international legal compliance, and the readiness of undersea mining technology are all areas of concern.

Sources:

• Reuters
• Financial Times