For years Brazil and the United States have quietly discussed how American investment and assistance could help the South American country unlock these vast reserves of rare earths, the world’s second largest. But now, the diplomatic crisis between the Western Hemisphere’s two largest nations risks derailing years of U.S. efforts to secure access to Brazilian rare earths.
By loosening China’s grip on strategic minerals crucial to the economies and battlefields of the future, both nations stood to gain from such an alliance, according to current Brazilian and former U.S. officials.
American support could help Brazil become a global powerhouse in the extraction and processing of rare earths. And Brazilian rare earths could reduce American dependence on China, which controls about 90 percent of world supplies — and has shown itself willing to withhold them.
The talks about this alliance, which have not been previously reported, were at an early stage. Then, Brazil’s rare earths were suddenly thrust into the bitter trade dispute between the two countries that erupted last month.
Ties between Brazil and the United States frayed when President Trump targeted the country with 50 percent tariffs to help his political ally, Jair Bolsonaro, the former Brazilian president, who is facing criminal charges for plotting a coup.
Just before tariffs were imposed on Brazil, the United States signaled that access to Brazil’s strategic minerals should be part of trade talks. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva snapped back, accusing the United States of threatening his nation’s sovereignty.
“No one lays a hand,” Mr. Lula said last month, referring to Brazil’s critical minerals. “This country belongs to the Brazilian people.” Brazilian officials also made clear that they will now seek to explore tapping its rare earth deposits with other allies, like India.
Posted by John3262005