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Japan and US Agree to Collaborate on Seabed Mining
Partnership aims to advance deep-sea mineral extraction despite ongoing global debates.
Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:05am
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The United States and Japan have signed a memorandum of cooperation to share research and insights on deep-sea mining, marking an extraordinary public show of support for recent U.S. efforts to jumpstart the fledgling industry. The agreement comes as the international community remains divided over potential rules for mining international waters for valuable minerals.
Why it matters
Seabed mining is a technically challenging and environmentally contentious industry, with many nations calling for a moratorium due to concerns over marine ecosystem damage. The U.S. and Japan's partnership signals a unilateral push to advance the industry despite the lack of global consensus.
The details
The non-legally binding memorandum lays out plans for the two countries to create a working group to share information on deep-sea science and mining projects, including insights from a recent Japanese effort to begin mining within its national waters. Japan is particularly interested in harvesting deep ocean mud to counterbalance China's dominance in rare earth metals.
- The memorandum was signed last week after a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Washington.
- The agreement was then circulated at a recent semiannual meeting of the International Seabed Authority, where 170 nations failed once again to reach a consensus on potential rules for mining international waters.
The players
Donald Trump
The President of the United States who met with the Japanese Prime Minister to discuss the seabed mining partnership.
Sanae Takaichi
The Prime Minister of Japan who signed the memorandum of cooperation with the United States on seabed mining.
International Seabed Authority
An independent organization created under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to regulate the ocean floor in international waters, where 170 member nations have failed to reach a consensus on mining rules.
What’s next
The U.S. and Japan will form a working group to share information and insights on their respective deep-sea mining projects and research.
The takeaway
The U.S. and Japan's partnership on seabed mining highlights the growing unilateral push by certain nations to advance the industry, despite ongoing global debates and concerns over the potential environmental impacts of deep-sea mineral extraction.
