To break China’s strategic grip on critical minerals, the US must remove impediments, streamline issuance of permits and marshal capital to mine resources from the sea floor, witnesses told Congress on Tuesday.
The hearing by a House Committee on Natural Resources subcommittee comes as US President Donald Trump – known for his “drill, baby, drill” mantra – promotes the harvesting of oil and minerals with minimal regard for environmental or foreign policy costs.
“The Trump administration have worked tirelessly to unleash America’s natural resources and restore our nation’s energy and mineral dollars,” said Representative Paul Gosar, the Arizona Republican who heads the energy and mineral resources subcommittee, adding that “nothing pleases our foreign adversaries, like China”, more than slow US progress.
Deep-sea minerals have become increasingly sought after as China has dominated the critical-minerals sector for profit and geopolitical benefit.
