State Dept. Accepting Comments on Conflict Minerals Sourcing

The State Department is accepting comments and requests for consultations from stakeholders until April 28, in connection with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s reporting requirements for “conflict minerals” from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding countries, State said (here). State is seeking comments on “how best to support responsible sourcing” of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold, in hopes of ensuring the region’s resource wealth helps advance broad, inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic development, and of breaking links between armed groups and the region’s minerals trade, State said. The SEC is considering whether to go forward with the reporting requirements set in 2014 (see 1702030035).