U.S. President Donald Trump defies international norms in the field of mining sea, signing the executive command on Thursday, which expands this practice for the exploitation of rare earth metals in American and international waters.
According to the White House Assistant, this initiative could enable US operations to extract more than a billion tons of minerals of rich nodules from the seabed and thus inject hundreds of billions of dollars to the American economy, AFP reports.
However, this move, which implies the violation of the seabed ecosystem to exploit cobalt and other minerals, is against the attitudes of environmental organizations and regulations set by the International Sea DNO (ISA).
Since the 1990s, ISA tries to establish rules for mining activities of this growing industry in international waters.
The United States, however, have never ratified agreements that give the jurisdiction of ISA and are not a member of this organization associated with the United Nations.
Instead, Donald Trump administration, according to New York Times, relies on the Law from 1980. year that allows the Federal Government to issue Lining Licenses on the seabed in international waters.
Isa did not answer at the request of AFP comment.
According to the order, the Minister of Trade is 60 days to “Accelerate the requirements for research and commercial exploitation of mineral raw materials from the seabed in areas outside the national jurisdiction.”
Commercial mining in the deep sea is still in the initial phase, but given the global race for rare earth metals, which currently dominates China, Washington seems determined to expand its capacity to strengthen its defense, production and energy industry.
However, environmental organizations warn that this process can cause huge environmental damage.
– Accelerating mining in the deep sea is an ecological disaster in the emerging – Emily Jeffers said, the higher legal advisor for the biological diversity center.
He states that Trump tries to open one of the most wide and least explored ecosystems on earth for irresponsible industrial exploitation.
– Increased policy of mining in the deep sea aims, among other things, strengthening partnerships with allies and industry to counter the growing influence of China over the mineral resources of the sea DNA – the White House said.
(Vijesti.ba / Fena)
