International Seabed Authority Fails to Reach Agreement on Deep Sea Mining Rules Amid US Pressure

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has made progress in negotiating rules for deep-sea mining, but crucial sections remain contentious. Despite US pressure, the ISA has not reached consensus on protecting the marine environment or finalizing the "mining code" and its 107 regulations. The proposed rules aim to regulate the extraction of metals like cobalt, nickel, and manganese for electric vehicles and emerging technologies. The ISA's secretary-general emphasized the need for robust science, inclusive dialogue, and precautionary measures to ensure the success of deep-sea governance.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has made progress in negotiating rules for deep-sea mining, but crucial sections remain contentious. Despite heightened pressure from the United States, the ISA has not reached consensus on protecting the marine environment or finalizing the "mining code" and its 107 regulations [1].

The proposed rules aim to regulate the extraction of metals like cobalt, nickel, and manganese, which are essential for electric vehicles and emerging technologies. However, the ISA's secretary-general, Leticia Carvalho, emphasized the need for robust science, inclusive dialogue, and precautionary measures to ensure the success of deep-sea governance [1].

The ISA session, which continued in Jamaica, saw the completion of a line-by-line reading of the proposed mining code by the 36 members of the executive council. However, several delegations opposed calls to finalize the code this year, citing the need for more scientific knowledge and environmental protection mechanisms [1].

The talks have taken on additional urgency since President Donald Trump issued an executive order to promote and expedite deep sea mining in international waters. This move was criticized by non-governmental organizations and some member states, who argue that it breaches international law [2].

The Canadian mining firm The Metals Company (TMC) lodged the first request for a high seas mining license, a move that was slammed by environmental groups and some member states. The ISA session comes as the United States is not a party to the ISA or the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), under which the ISA was established [1].

The negotiations have been tense, with several delegations critical of the rules put in place by the council president, including convening some negotiations behind closed doors. Environmental advocates argue that the deep sea is a massive hub of biodiversity and that the industry could threaten isolated ecosystems [2].

Progress towards adopting the code remains uncertain, with critics raising mounting concerns about the harm the industry would cause to marine life. The talks have taken on an additional sense of urgency since President Trump issued an executive order earlier this year to promote and expedite deep sea mining in international waters [2].

The ISA's secretary-general, Leticia Carvalho, has emphasized the need for robust science, inclusive dialogue, and precautionary measures to ensure the success of deep-sea governance. However, the ISA has not yet set a new deadline for the adoption of the regulations, respecting the need for scientific information and due process [1].

References:
[1] https://phys.org/news/2025-07-deep-sea-lack-consensus-pressure.html
[2] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17072025/deep-sea-mining-negotiations-resume-amid-industry-pushback/