China vs. US: Tariff War Escalates with New Battleground in South Africa and DRC

The trade and geopolitical battle between the world's two biggest economic superpowers, the US and China, is nothing new, but this rivalry is once again at its peak since Donald Trump became president for the second time. Trump declared a tariff war against China as soon as he was sworn in and imposed a 20 percent tariff on Chinese imports in February. In retaliation, China also imposed a 15 percent tax on LNG coming from the US and 10 percent on other goods.

Amid the tariff war between the two countries, US lawmakers in the lower house i.e. the House of Representatives on Tuesday demanded to rein in China and demanded to stop China's mining activities in the African country Congo, also known as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). US lawmakers in the House of Representatives have made this demand when the Trump administration is considering sealing a deal with the Central African country to counter Chinese dominance for mineral supply, but China's presence there is already bothering the US.

What are the demands of American MPs?
US lawmakers say that China is exploiting precious minerals in Congo through kleptocracy. Therefore, steps should be taken to stop such illegal mineral exploitation by China. Sasha Lezhnev, policy advisor at The Sentry, a Washington-based non-profit founded by George Clooney and other Hollywood stars in 2016, said, "The biggest obstacle to eliminating mining abuses is the existing system of kleptocracy in the DRC, under which a large group of elites along with commercial partners control these mineral resources and leave the large population to suffer."

Where is the conflict between America and China
About 70 percent of the global production of cobalt takes place only in Congo. This mineral is used as an important component of batteries used in electric vehicles and phones. Apart from this, Congo is also a major source of copper and a dozen other important metals and rare minerals. China has been eyeing it for a long time. This is why Beijing has invested billions of dollars there through the Belt and Road Initiative.

America will give security facility to Congo
According to AidData, a research lab at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, between 2000 and 2021, Chinese-owned lenders approved 19 loans worth about US$12.85 billion for cobalt and copper mines in Congo, a South China Morning Post report said. However, the Joe Biden-led US administration also promised to fund a railway and logistics project linking Congo and resource-rich Zambia to Angola in 2023 to increase its access to Congolese minerals. The Biden administration moved ahead on this and also reached an agreement with both the countries, but the Trump administration now wants to take a significant lead on this.

Preparations to end Chinese dominance
The Trump administration wants to end Chinese dominance over mineral-rich Congo and wants its share in the exploitation of minerals. So that China's monopoly as an exporter of important minerals like copper and cobalt can be ended. According to the Wall Street Journal, Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi has offered mining opportunities to the Trump regime in exchange for a formal security agreement. Analysts say that mineral resources cannot be exploited peacefully without curbing the kleptocracy and criminals in Congo. Therefore, it has become necessary for Congo to enter into a security agreement with the US. In fact, the activities conducted by the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group in the mineral-rich eastern region of Congo have complicated mineral exploitation. China is considered a supporter of such a mechanism.