Proposals on critical minerals under review by ministries, diplomacy

“Proposals for international cooperation on this topic are undergoing technical analysis by multiple ministries and remain under development within the scope of diplomatic dialogue,” the ministry said in a statement to Valor, when asked what, in concrete terms, Brazil could offer the U.S. in the area of critical minerals as part of the tariff discussions.

“All negotiations are conducted following current legal frameworks and aligned with the guidelines of Brazilian mineral policy, while respecting national sovereignty over resources and ensuring local value creation,” the statement added.

The ministry also said that “critical minerals will continue to be part of economic and technological cooperation agendas between Brazil and its strategic partners, in a balanced and non-exclusive manner.”

This week, two public remarks on the topic raised questions about the federal government’s stance.

On Monday (4), in an interview with BandNews, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said: “We have critical minerals and rare earth elements. The United States does not have abundant reserves of these minerals, so we could establish cooperation agreements to produce more efficient batteries.” His comment was offered as an example of topics that could be brought to the negotiating table.

On Tuesday (5), however, President Lula stated in Brasília, during a meeting of the Sustainable Economic and Social Development Council: “We are building a national policy that will ensure that the exploitation of these resources benefits the Brazilian people. If these rare earths and critical minerals are found here in Brazil, they belong to us. And we will not allow them to be exploited the way other minerals have been for so long.”

In its note to Valor, the Ministry of Mines and Energy emphasized that Brazil is seeking to “strengthen its international role through partnerships that respect national legal frameworks, promote local industrialization, and generate tangible benefits for Brazilian society.”

According to the Energy Act of 2020—the current U.S. law on the subject—critical minerals are defined as those essential to the economy and national security; those vital to the manufacturing of products whose absence would have significant consequences; and those whose supply is vulnerable to disruption.

The U.S. lists 50 minerals as critical, many of which are used in high-tech equipment, electric vehicle batteries, defense applications, and more.

In the 2025 data release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Brazil appears as the country with the second-largest reserves of critical minerals, behind only China. However, Brazil’s production remains limited.

For manganese, Brazil has the world’s fourth-largest reserves. Its nickel reserves rank third globally, and for niobium, Brazil holds the top spot.

There has yet to be a formal statement from the U.S. indicating interest in including Brazilian critical minerals in tariff negotiations.

However, the topic has gained traction following a meeting between Gabriel Escobar, the top U.S. diplomat in Brazil, and executives from mining companies operating in the country. During the meeting, the U.S. reiterated a message it has conveyed for several years: its interest in cooperating with Brazil in the area of critical minerals.