The United States government is currently accelerating the regulatory and administrative frameworks necessary to permit commercial mineral extraction from the ocean floor.

美國政府目前正加速制定必要的監管與行政框架，以允許從海底進行商業礦產開採。

The current trajectory was initiated by an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in April 2025, which characterized seabed minerals as essential for national prosperity and the reduction of trade dependence on China. Consequently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) have commenced the streamlining of permitting processes. This includes the potential auctioning of seabed tracts from Alaska to American Samoa and a shift in NOAA policy allowing concurrent applications for exploration and commercial operations. This administrative pivot represents a departure from previous adherence to the International Seabed Authority's (ISA) multilateral governance framework, suggesting a unilateral approach to international waters.

目前的發展軌跡是由總統川普在 2025 年 4 月發布的行政命令所啟動，該命令將海底礦產定義為國家繁榮及減少對中國貿易依賴的關鍵。因此，美國國家海洋暨大氣管理局 (NOAA) 與海洋能源管理局 (BOEM) 已開始簡化許可流程。這包括可能拍賣從阿拉斯加到美屬薩摩亞的海底區塊，以及 NOAA 政策的轉向，允許同時申請勘探與商業營運。這次行政轉向代表其脫離了先前對國際海底管理局 (ISA) 多邊治理框架的遵循，顯示出對國際水域採取單邊主義的做法。

Stakeholder positioning reveals a diverse array of corporate entities seeking access, including The Metals Company, Odyssey Marine Exploration, and Impossible Metals. However, the operational viability of these firms is subject to scrutiny. Several entities possess histories characterized by legal disputes or failed ventures, such as Odyssey's litigation with the Spanish government and the bankruptcy of Nautilus Minerals. Furthermore, the economic rationale for the industry is contested by mineral economists. Critics highlight the availability of terrestrial reserves and the evolution of battery chemistry, which has diminished the demand for cobalt and nickel. Specifically, analysis of The Metals Company's pre-feasibility study suggests a break-even projection that coincides with the exhaustion of identified reserves.

利害關係人的定位顯示，有許多不同的企業實體正尋求進入，包括 The Metals Company、Odyssey Marine Exploration 及 Impossible Metals。然而，這些公司的營運可行性仍受到質疑。部分實體的歷史記錄充滿法律爭議或失敗 venture，例如 Odyssey 與西班牙政府的訴訟，以及 Nautilus Minerals 的破產。此外，礦業經濟學家對該產業的經濟理據存有異議。批評者強調陸地儲量的可用性以及電池化學的演進，這已降低了對鈷和鎳的需求。具體而言，對 The Metals Company 初步可行性研究的分析顯示，其損益平衡預測與已知儲量耗盡的時間點重疊。

Institutional and logistical impediments persist, most notably the absence of domestic refining capacity for nickel, manganese, and cobalt. While the administration has identified the expansion of domestic processing as a priority, firms currently rely on foreign supply chains in Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia. This reliance may precipitate legal complications, as foreign partners remain bound by ISA commitments. Additionally, the proposed extraction in U.S. territories has encountered local opposition, with American Samoa and Guam implementing prohibitions on deep-sea mining, though federal jurisdiction over waters beyond three miles remains the deciding factor.

制度與物流障礙依然存在，最顯著的是缺乏鎳、錳和鈷的國內精煉能力。雖然政府已將擴大國內加工列為優先事項，但企業目前仍依賴日本、韓國和印尼的海外供應鏈。由於海外合作夥伴仍受 ISA 承諾的約束，這種依賴可能會導致法律複雜化。此外，擬在美國領土進行的開採遭遇當地反對，美屬薩摩亞與關島已實施深海採礦禁令，儘管三海里以外水域的聯邦管轄權仍是決定性因素。

The U.S. government continues to facilitate the entry of private firms into the deep-sea mining sector despite significant economic, legal, and environmental uncertainties.

儘管存在顯著的經濟、法律與環境不確定性，美國政府仍持續促進私人企業進入深海採礦領域。