Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration is drafting an executive order to allow the U.S. to stockpile metal resources from the Pacific seabed in response to China's dominance in the battery metals and rare earth supply chain, but faces significant challenges [1][3]. Group 1: Challenges of Deep-Sea Mining - There is widespread domestic opposition in the U.S. to deep-sea mining due to environmental concerns, with experts warning that it could cause far greater damage than land mining [5]. - The U.S. lacks the necessary technology and capabilities for deep-sea mining, which involves high costs and complex operations, making it potentially more expensive than importing rare earth materials [5]. - The U.S. faces pressure from the United Nations, as the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has stated that all exploration and mining activities must be regulated by them, and unilateral actions could violate international law [7]. Group 2: Context of Rare Earth Supply Chain - The U.S. is currently highly dependent on China for both raw materials and development technology related to rare earth elements, which poses a risk if China decides to restrict exports [3]. - China has already begun implementing export controls on seven rare earth items in response to U.S. tariffs, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the trade relationship [3].

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration is drafting an executive order to stockpile metals found on the Pacific seabed to counter China's dominance in battery minerals and rare earth supply chains [1][3]. Group 1: Rare Earth and Metal Supply - The majority of seabed contains polymetallic nodules rich in nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese, essential for electric vehicle batteries and high-tech products [1]. - China produces 99% of the world's heavy rare earth metals, with a small amount from Vietnam, which has recently closed its refining plant due to tax disputes [1]. - China accounts for approximately 90% of global refined rare earth production, while Japan and Germany produce small quantities but rely on Chinese raw materials [1]. Group 2: Challenges of Deep-Sea Mining - The technology for deep-sea resource development is currently immature, making it difficult to establish stable mining operations on the seabed [3]. - Existing methods for seabed mining, such as constructing human habitats or developing mining robots, face significant cost and technical challenges, limiting large-scale application [3]. - Deep-sea resources have historically served as a supplement to global supply rather than a mainstream source, and there is international opposition to large-scale seabed resource development [3]. Group 3: Regulatory and Environmental Concerns - The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has warned against unilateral actions by the Trump administration regarding seabed mining, emphasizing that all activities must be conducted under ISA's control [5]. - The ISA Secretary-General stated that any unilateral action would violate international law and undermine multilateral principles [5]. - Experts indicate that deep-sea mining could cause environmental damage 25 times greater than land mining, threatening marine biodiversity and habitats [5]. Group 4: Economic Implications - Even if the deep-sea mining plan is successful, the extraction costs may exceed the prices of importing from China, suggesting that the initiative may be more of a market appeasement strategy [7]. - The deep-sea mining plan reflects the weaknesses in the U.S. industrial chain, indicating that external solutions to internal problems may be unrealistic [7]. - The rare earth issue, while a small battleground, holds significant potential to influence broader economic dynamics and the future of U.S. manufacturing revival [7].