The Metals Company (TMC) aims to initiate deep-sea mining by early 2027 under a U.S. regulatory pathway.
The U.S. executive order bypasses UNCLOS, which treats the deep seabed as the common heritage of mankind.
Legal experts warn that Canada could face international repercussions if its companies are linked to unilateral mining operations.
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) asserts that no state has the right to exploit these resources outside established UN legal frameworks.