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Trump's plan to increase domestic mineral production is resisted by an adviser

Unknown advisor to the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation is opposing a plan of President Donald Trump that would use it to increase domestic investment in mining production.

Why it's Important:

DFC is one of the world's leading sources of development financing. It has more than 50 billion dollars in portfolios of projects ranging from critical infrastructure to food, energy and health. Over 70% of this funding goes to low- and lower middle-income countries.

Experts in development are worried that Trump's executive order of March 20, which invoked emergency power to boost domestic production of critical minerals and named DFC a key funding source, could lead the agency to pull back from its international commitments.

KEY QUOTES

"DFC is focused on countries with low and lower middle-income levels." The DFC does not currently have the authority for investing in the U.S. This could change but would cause pushback from the DFC's most ardent supporters, said Robert Mosbacher who was the former head of Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) under President George W. Bush.

"I am optimistic that the reauthorisation will try to strike a balanced and keep the agency focused primarily on development, while increasing its focus on foreign policy goals."

CONTEXT:

The order follows Trump's decision to cut $76 billion from project funding at the U.S. Agency for International Development. Development analysts and nongovernmental organisations are concerned that the DFC mandate will also be altered.

Development experts say that Trump's choice of Ben Black as DFC's CEO, the son of Apollo Global Management's co-founder Leon Black, has not done much to ease concerns. Black wrote a blog in which he disparaged DFC's support of "virtue signalling" green projects, and argued in favor of Greenland's natural resources.

WHAT'S NEXT:

Mosbacher stated that once appointed, Black would have the ability to contribute to an ongoing review of DFC’s governing rules. The review is expected to be completed by early October. However, any radical policy changes may be moderated by the bipartisan support the current mandate enjoys in both chambers.

Last week, it was reported that DFC would be in line to handle a crucial minerals fund Trump proposed as part of the ceasefire talks between Ukraine & Russia. (Reporting and editing by Tomaszjanowski)

(source: Reuters)