A company specializing in seabed mining has formally requested permission from the Trump administration to extract critical metals from the ocean floor within international waters overseen by a United Nations-related entity. The Metals Company (TMC) has initiated discussions with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and engaged with White House officials to pursue a pre-application consultation for mining operations in the Pacific Ocean.

If the Trump administration approves TMC's mining license request, it could disrupt an international agreement governing deep-sea mining and other marine activities. The proposed mining activities could lead to challenges to multilateralism and threaten various aspects such as freedom of navigation, maritime boundaries, and fisheries management, as stated by legal advisor Duncan Currie from the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.

Even though TMC asserts its compliance with international laws, the potential mining operations could impact the regulations established by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), which controls a significant portion of the global seabed. TMC, based in Vancouver, possesses ISA permits to explore cobalt, nickel, and other metals in polymetallic nodules spread across the Clarion-Clipperton Zone between Hawaii and Mexico. Despite holding licenses, TMC and other ISA-approved companies are awaiting the enactment of regulations before commencing mining activities.

Initially planning to pursue an ISA license in June for mining activities regardless of regulatory frameworks, TMC has now heightened its efforts by seeking approval from the United States. The company sees an opportunity in the post-election landscape to position the U.S. as a leader in deep-sea mining and support the extraction of polymetallic nodules, as emphasized by TMC's Chief Financial Officer Craig Shesky.