Trump Admin Awards $22 Million for Critical Mineral Supply Chains

The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded $22 million to groups in Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to combat China’s reliance on labor abuse as a way to control global critical mineral supply chains. Human rights organizations, researchers, and government agencies have documented extensive labor rights violations in the two countries, according to the department. The grants support efforts to eliminate labor exploitation in key mineral supply chains in Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo that are essential to U.S. manufacturing, energy production, and national security, the department said. “By addressing abusive labor practices overseas, these projects help ensure that American workers and companies that play by the rules can compete on a level playing field,” the department said in a statement....