The US – and others – are trying to counter the dominance of Beijing, which was far quicker to grasp the strategic importance of such resources. Key to its plan is a deal touted as a way to bring the DRC wealth and create incentives for peace. Few on the ground are convinced. The deal does nothing to help the DRC build processing capacity and requires it to freeze its tax and regulatory regimes for a decade. The EU likes to portray itself as taking higher ground. But in December, the parliament and council agreed to weaken key due diligence rules.