U.S. Courts Brazil on Critical Minerals With Financing Push for In‑Country Processing

Overview

• U.S. envoy Caleb Orr labeled Brazil a strategic partner for critical‑minerals supply chains and highlighted interest in projects across the country.
• The U.S. DFC committed about US$565 million to Serra Verde in Goiás and has supported Aclara’s rare‑earth work, signaling concrete investment on the ground.
• Brazil’s government welcomed the U.S. focus on processing and refining but reiterated it will not grant exclusive supply and will preserve sovereignty over its subsoil.
• Officials in Brasília expect minerals to feature in next month’s Lula–Trump talks, though they caution a comprehensive deal may not be ready, with tariff issues also in play.
• U.S. initiatives such as Forge and Project Vault aim to reduce dependence on China, while Brazil, which holds vast rare‑earth reserves, is prioritizing domestic value addition and bilateral frameworks.