President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) criticized, on Thursday (24), the interest of the United States in Brazilian critical minerals.
During an event of the federal government in the city of Minas Novas (MG), Lula stated that the country will not allow foreign interference in its natural wealth.
“We have all our gold to protect. We have all the rich minerals you want to protect. And here no one puts our hands. This country is from the Brazilian people”
The statement occurs amid the growing diplomatic movement between Brazil and the United States about the so -called, essential inputs for the production of batteries, semiconductors and other technologies.
The sector is considered strategic for global economies, especially in view of the US attempt to reduce China’s dependence, today dominant in this market.
USA and Critical Minerals
On Wednesday (23), Brazilian authorities and the US embassy business in Brazil, Gabriel Escobar, gathered in Brasilia to discuss a possible cooperation agreement between countries and 50% tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on Brazilian products.
The meeting was the third of the type only in 2025, and departed from the US government’s initiative. Escobar considered the Brazilian mineral sector proposal to send a delegation to Washington positive to discuss directly with US officials and mining companies. However, the visit should only take place from September.
The expectation of Brazilian authorities is that the rare lands, minerals present in high -tech equipment, can receive differentiated treatment in commercial negotiations with the US. Currently, about 70% of Brazilian mineral exports is destined for China.
According to the International Energy Agency, the Asian country concentrates more than 80% of the global battery cell production capacity, and more than half of the worldwide processing of lithium and cobalt. Chinese mastery in the sector is one of the main concerns of the new Trump management.
(With information from Gabriel Garcia, from CNN)
