The United States, China and mineral resource extraction: the case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Of relevance for this chapter is the DRC-China agreement, which is a well-known embodiment of the increasing number of Chinese mineral infrastructure agreements with countries on the African continent. A key element of China and Africa's resource trade is premised on the so-called resources for infrastructure swaps, which are seen to facilitate much needed infrastructure investment. Resource for infrastructure swaps, which are typically employed by the Chinese government and state owned companies, are viewed as having a positive impact on continental economic development and provide an escape route from the mineral resource curse. They allow African governments to invest in public works by paying for them with future exports. The DRC-China resource for infrastructure swap that was agreed in 2008 is of major significance, as it is the largest on the continent and could serve as a model for future mining agreements.