Brazil has not responded to two proposals from the United States to formalize cooperation on critical minerals, a senior US diplomat disclosed at Latin America’s largest mining fair on Tuesday, August 26, 2026. This leaves Washington without a bilateral agreement as it seeks to build rare earth supply chains outside of China.

Matthew Lowe, economic counsellor at the US embassy in Brasilia, said Washington invited Brazil years ago to join the Minerals Security Partnership, a US-led coalition coordinating investment in mineral supply chains, but never received a response. Additionally, a draft framework agreement sent in February also went unanswered.

“We’ll probably have to wait till the election, no matter what happens,” Lowe told the audience in Belo Horizonte, referring to Brazil’s presidential vote scheduled for October 2026.

Lowe spoke at Exposibram, a conference organized by the Brazilian Mining Institute, alongside officials from France, Canada, Australia, and Britain. Most of these governments have signed agreements similar to those the US is seeking with Brazil. During the session, the officials discussed strategies to reduce China’s dominance in mineral processing without explicitly naming China.

The lack of response from Brazil complicates US efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains essential for technology and clean energy sectors, underscoring geopolitical competition in the mining and minerals domain.

Sources