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Germany and Brazil Sign 13 Cooperation Deals as EU-Mercosur Nears Start

Germany signals a tilt toward new partners to cut reliance on the U.S. and China.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meets Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for bilateral talks in Hanover, Germany, April 19, 2026. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/Pool
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks during a talk about the initiative "Made for Germany“ at the Hannover Messe, one of the world's largest industrial trade fairs with Brazil as this year's partner country, in Hanover, Germany, April 20, 2026. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Overview

  • German and Brazilian officials signed 13 agreements in Hanover covering defense procurement, quantum computing, critical minerals and renewable energy.
  • German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he wants to double bilateral trade with Brazil, which totaled €20 billion in 2024.
  • Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva urged technology transfer and more local processing and said the partners will develop data centers, high‑performance computing and semiconductors to reduce dependence on foreign tech firms.
  • The leaders backed the EU‑Mercosur trade pact taking effect on May 1, describing it as rules‑based trade with fewer tariffs.
  • Lula highlighted Brazil’s vast yet under‑mapped mineral reserves, citing leading global positions in niobium, graphite, rare earths and nickel.