UN group fires back over Trump's deep-sea mining plan
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The U.N.-affiliated body that governs the seabed in international waters came out swinging — by diplo-speak standards — against White House efforts to spur deep-sea mineral mining.
Why it matters: The International Seabed Authority's statement circulated Saturday is a fresh sign of geopolitical and legal conflict that could greet new commercial efforts outside its purview.
Driving the news: "Any endeavor undertaken outside the recognized and consensual international framework, or in an attempt to circumvent international law, may incur legal, diplomatic, economic, security, financial and reputational risks," the group said.
- It adds that "circumventing" the ISA's regulatory authority would breach international law and "silence" the voices of poor and developing nations.
The big picture: The ISA, under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, is tasked with overseeing deep-sea mineral harvesting in international waters.
- But long-delayed regulations have yet to be completed. The U.S. has never ratified the treaty but has historically participated as an observer.
- Deep-sea regions could hold major deposits of manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt bound up in nodules. But many scientists fear major damage to fragile ecosystems and species.
Catch up quick: The weekend statement adds to criticism of President Trump's executive order last Thursday.
- China, a dominant player in mineral supply chains, called the U.S. move a violation of international law.
- The country holds five ISA exploration licenses. No country or company has begun commercial extraction of mineral-rich nodules.
The other side: The White House order's section on international waters cites authority under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act.
- It also envisions regulating exploration and extraction in U.S. waters under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. But the industry's greatest focus to date has been in remote international tracts.
- "Both of these laws require comprehensive environmental impact assessments and compliance with strong environmental protection standards," Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, tells the NYT.
What we're watching: Center for Strategic and International Studies analysts have a lucid primer on the whole topic and White House moves.
- They note it's possible that the U.S. could issue licenses in the coveted Clarion–Clipperton zone that overlap with areas the ISA has designated to other nations — including China.
- "This could lead to a number of unprecedented complications and international disputes over resource governance and ownership," they say.
