US And Japan Set Priorities For Seabed Mineral Development

The US and Japan have set out priorities for developing seabed mineral resources, including industry partnerships, processing capacity and shared research equipment. Their joint statement, released by the US Department of State on 12th November 2026, presents the cooperation as a way to diversify critical mineral supplies and strengthen economic security.

The announcement followed the second meeting of their working group in Toyama, Japan, on 11th and 12th November. Discussions covered Japan's project to recover rare-earth mud, sediment containing rare-earth elements, near Minamitorishima Island, and its project for polymetallic nodules, lumps containing several metals found on the seabed.

The governments plan to encourage commercial partnerships throughout the seabed mineral supply chain and secure processing capacity among trusted partners. They also intend to protect sensitive technology and proprietary information.

Research cooperation would include exchanging information on seabed mapping, resource assessment and environmental monitoring. The countries will explore coordinated access to vessels and underwater vehicles for joint research, technology demonstrations and their respective exploration campaigns.

The statement also calls for regulatory exchanges and clearer, more predictable rules to encourage private investment. It builds on a critical minerals framework signed in October 2025 and a cooperation memorandum signed in March 2026. It gives no funding commitment, production target or date for commercial mining to begin.

Japan's rare-earth mud work has already involved experimental recovery. In a press release dated 24th July 2026, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) reported that its drilling vessel Chikyu had recovered mud during a three-day lifting test earlier that year. The agency said the test recovered material from three locations in rare-earth-bearing layers and confirmed stable operation of the system.

Rough weather meant lowering the mining equipment and lifting pipes took 12 days rather than the planned seven.

JAMSTEC's July plan for a further test included transporting recovered material to Minamitorishima, removing water and shipping it to mainland Japan for separation, purification and smelting trials. The agency said a comprehensive assessment of industrialisation would include economic viability.