Deep Sea Mining Order Raises Billions

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Trump's executive order speeds up approval for mining potato-sized rocks on the ocean floor, rich in metals needed for electric car batteries and defense tech

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The deep-sea mining push aims to break China's stranglehold on critical minerals while potentially boosting U.S. GDP by $300 billion and creating 100,000 jobs.

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Environmental experts warn the mining operations could destroy fragile deep-sea habitats where half the species depend on these nodules for survival.

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"Fast-tracking deep-sea mining is an environmental disaster in the making," said Emily Jeffers from the Center for Biological Diversity.

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The Metals Company's stock jumped 40% after the announcement, with its CEO claiming their boat is "production-ready" once permits are approved.

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A Nature study found that a seabed area experimentally mined in 1979 had still not recovered after 40 years, raising alarms about permanent damage.

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The U.S. move bypasses the International Seabed Authority, challenging the notion that deep-sea resources are the "common heritage of mankind."

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Over 30 countries and major companies like BMW, Volkswagen, and Apple have pledged to avoid using minerals from deep-sea mining.

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