At a ministerial meeting between leaders from China and African countries last week, China detailed substantial financial and trade commitments to African countries, including tariff-free status for 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China. The initiatives are part of Beijing's ongoing efforts to strengthen its partnership with

In a speech last week, a Chinese official said that China will waive repayment of interest-free loans for 17 African countries.

A new paper by analysts at the Center for Global Development emphasizes the prominent role that lending from Chinese financial institutions plays in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A new Congressional Research Service report on the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) lays out a wide range of issues for Congress related to this agency, including the DFC's role in "countering China."

On November 4, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ben Sasse (R-NE), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) sent a letter [https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E6762115-790A-42E5-AED1-EE6854475E5B] to Acting Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International