ACCORDING to correspondence that we have been able to see, among the things that the American government is asking for in exchange for over US$1 billion in health aid, is preferential treatment for investors and businesses from that country. In particular, America is asking for what is called the right of first refusal for critical minerals. In simple terms, this means for every mining opportunity that arises around the extraction of critical minerals, America must be given the first opportunity to take up that investment or purchase the asset and indeed expand their business. They have to be given the first opportunity to accept or refuse to transact on any such deal regarding critical minerals. This is quite an ask....