For the past decade and a half, the trade in metals that power our laptops and make our cell phones vibrate has helped to fuel the devastating war in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Dodd Frank Act…is a groundbreaking measure that aims to cut off a major source of cash for for abusive armed groups in the region…Business lobby groups are pulling out the stops to ensure that these regulations are delayed or diluted...As Mr Aronson’s reporting and our own recent research in eastern Congo shows, the international demand for Congolese minerals is currently at a low ebb...The idea that the Dodd Frank Act amounts to a long-term embargo is not correct, however. Indeed...the past few weeks have seen major international companies unveiling plans to invest in and source from mines in areas of Congo covered by the law...Other positive effects of the law are being felt.