The Metals Co has revealed that it has been confidentially negotiating a plan with the Trump administration to circumvent a United Nations treaty and possibly obtain U.S. authorization to begin mining in international waters. The proposal drew immediate protests from environmental groups. It represents a radical shift in the debate over accessing deposits on the sea floor that contain copper, cobalt, manganese and other metals that are needed for electric vehicle batteries and smartphones. The International Seabed Authority has jurisdiction over seabed mining in international waters outside the coastal areas of each nation.
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