The Trump administration may suspend the DRC Conflict Mineral rule that requires US public companies disclose whether they have conflict minerals (cassiterite, wolframite, and coltan, and gold) in their supply chain from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hosts Seth Daire and JJ Janflone look at how conflict minerals are mined with forced labor, how the rule may have had some unintended consequences, and challenge our government and corporations to come up with a solution rather than a cop-out. The issue is best summed up by auditing firm Deloitte, "Although many companies may view social compliance efforts as cumbersome, experiences with conflict minerals suggest that these efforts have helped companies improve supply chain transparency and risk identification capabilities."

Sources:

https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2016/258747.htm

https://www.sec.gov/rules/final/2012/34-67716.pdf

https://www.sec.gov/News/Article/Detail/Article/1365171562058

https://www.verite.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Verite-Report-Illegal_Gold_Mining-2.pdf

https://journalistsresource.org/studies/international/globalization/conflict-minerals-responsible-sourcing-3tg

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/business/dealbook/companies-struggle-to-comply-with-conflict-minerals-rule.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/how-a-well-intentioned-us-law-left-congolese-miners-jobless/2014/11/30/14b5924e-69d3-11e4-9fb4-a622dae742a2_story.html?utm_term=.9ce5001a37e9

http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/more-conflict-minerals-drama-81929/

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/02/conflict-minerals-are-about-get-reprieve

https://www.sourceintelligence.com/what-are-conflict-minerals/

http://www.statschippac.com/aboutus/drc_stmt.aspx

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/09/conflict_minerals_from_the_congo_is_your_cellphone_made_with_them.html

https://business-humanrights.org/en/chinese-companies-continuing-to-buy-minerals-from-eastern-dem-rep-of-congo-but-local-directives-market-pressure-may-push-them-to-ensure-their-purchases-dont-fuel-conflict

https://journalistsresource.org/studies/international/globalization/conflict-minerals-responsible-sourcing-3tg