China has urged the US to follow international law in its plans to stockpile deep-sea metals, citing concerns that such a move could be seen as bypassing global regulations. The US is reportedly drafting an executive order to enable the stockpiling of deep-sea metals found on the Pacific Ocean seabed, aimed at countering China’s dominance in battery minerals and rare earth supply chains.
China has placed certain rare earth elements under export restrictions in retaliation to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods. The Chinese foreign ministry stated that the seabed and its resources “are the common heritage of mankind” and must be explored and exploited in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the International Seabed Authority.
The US imports much of its rare earths, which come largely from China, where 90% of the world’s refined rare earths are produced. A stockpile of deep-sea metals could potentially create a strategic advantage for the US in case of future conflicts with China over access to these critical minerals.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/china-urges-us-follow-international-law-reported-deep-sea-metals-stockpile-plan-2025-04-14