United States embassy business in Brazil, Gabriel Escobar, again demonstrated the interest of the Donald Trump government in critical and strategic minerals (MCES) present in Brazilian territory. The signage was made at a meeting with private sector representatives on Thursday (24), according to the president of the Brazilian Mining Institute (IBRAM), Raul Jungmann to G1.
The resumption of the theme occurs amid the growing diplomatic tension between Brazil and the United States, after Trump’s threat to apply 50% tariffs on Brazilian products from August 1. According to Jungmann, Escobar had already made mentions to the theme three months earlier, in previous conversations with the institute.
“The embassy business officer did not talk about making agreements, but reaffirmed that the US has an interest in the MCES – which, by the way, had already spoken to us three months ago,” Jungmann told the portal.
Ibram made it clear, according to him, that any negotiations on the subject must be conducted by the Brazilian government. “We said then that the negotiation agenda is private to the government. And that we intended to negotiate with the private sector there,” he said.
Dispute for strategic chains
Critical and strategic minerals are fundamental to digital economy and global energy transition. Used in the manufacture of high -tech chips, batteries, turbines and equipment, MCES include elements such as niobium, lithium, copper and cobalt – many of them concentrated in Brazil and China, which hold the largest reserves in the world.
In recent months, the United States has signed bilateral agreements on these minerals with countries such as Ukraine and China, seeking to reduce dependence on supply chains considered “sensitive.” Brazil, in this context, is seen as a strategic supplier and alternative ally potential.
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Pressure instrument
American rapprochement over the MCES occurs in parallel to Tarump’s tariff threats. The White House has announced that it intends to overxx Brazilian products up to 50% from August, alleging unfair practices and political interference in the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The Lula government, however, assesses that the measure has essentially political motivation and would be a veiled retaliation for the decisions of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), especially those led by Minister Alexandre de Moraes.
