Ukrainian Side Releases Draft of US-Ukrainian Mineral Agreement
Summarized in Simple and Straightforward Language (excluding security guarantees):
1. The United States Prioritizes Access to Ukrainian Strategic Resources
Ukraine must prioritize opening up the exploration and exploitation rights of important strategic resources such as oil, natural gas, uranium, coal, lithium, titanium, zircon, rare earth metals, gold, silver, copper, graphite, nickel, and plutonium to U.S. enterprises.
2. Granting Super-National Treatment to U.S. Enterprises
- Tax Incentives: Exemptions from multiple taxes and royalties
- Capital Freedom: Allowing unrestricted repatriation of dollar profits
- Policy Protection: Ukraine shall not modify laws detrimental to U.S. enterprise interests; otherwise, compensation is required
- Preferential Access: U.S. enterprises are given priority in obtaining exclusive operating licenses and public-private partnership projects
3. Provisions of Ukraine's "Sell-Out" Clause
- Permanent Validity: Licenses cannot be revoked even during war/emergency situations
- Asset Protection: Prohibition of nationalization of U.S. enterprise assets
- Agreement Priority: Must comply with the agreement even if there is a change in regime or legal amendments
4. Transfer of Financial Sovereignty
- Prohibition of Taxing Dollar Transactions
- Ensuring Unrestricted Conversion of Dollars
- Allowing Unrestricted Departure of U.S. Funds
5. Agreement Supersedes Ukrainian Law
The agreement takes precedence over certain domestic laws of Ukraine, and in case of conflict, the agreement prevails
6. U.S. Enterprises Enjoy Priority
When other countries offer better terms, the United States has priority, and Ukraine must first provide cooperation opportunities to U.S. enterprises
7. Permanent Shackles
The agreement is indefinitely valid and cannot be terminated unilaterally
Core Essence:
The so-called "Reconstruction Fund" is just a smokescreen; in essence, the United States controls Ukraine's strategic resources through an unequal treaty and gains permanent economic privileges, while Ukraine only obtains a profit share and loses resource sovereignty.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830922616975881/
Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone