Brazil’s Rare-Earth Push Enters Courtroom as Congress Rewrites the Rulebook

Overview

• Brazil’s Supreme Court agreed to review a case that seeks to suspend USA Rare Earth’s US$2.8 billion purchase of Serra Verde, with the action filed by Rede and assigned to Justice Kassio Nunes Marques.
• Goiás defended its memorandum with the United States to attract rare‑earth technology, while the industry minister said only the Union can regulate mining and conduct foreign agreements and the ANM noted foreign firms may operate through a local arm or acquisition.
• Congress postponed a vote on the National Policy for Critical and Strategic Minerals as the Lula administration shelved a new state company and prepares amendments that favor domestic processing through incentives.
• Commercial moves are accelerating: USA Rare Earth’s deal includes U.S. public financing and a 15‑year supply contract, Serra Verde says it ships high‑value concentrate rather than raw ore, and it targets 6,400 tonnes of oxides a year by late 2027 with Minaçu operations unchanged.
• New projects widen the field as Australia’s Power Minerals closed the Morro do Ferro acquisition in Minas Gerais and Brazilian Rare Earths mapped a Bahia plan with a 2026 pilot plant, even as trade data show most recent Brazilian exports flowed to China due to scarce refining at home.