Americas Quarterly

The acquisition package for Serra Verde in Goiás included a 15-year agreement for 100% of Phase I production, guaranteed floor prices, and a $565 million financing deal with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.

“The announced package included a 15-year agreement covering 100% of Phase I production, guaranteed floor prices, and a $565 million financing deal with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.”

The United States improved its position by providing capital, risk protection, and a long-term market.

“The U.S. improved its position by providing capital, risk protection, and a long-term market, not simply political goodwill.”

Brazil's new screening and value-addition frameworks require specific outlays from prospective partners.

“Brazil’s new screening and value-addition frameworks require these kinds of outlays from prospective partners.”

Fernanda Magnotta is a senior fellow at the Brazilian Center for International Relations.

“Fernanda Magnotta is a senior fellow at the Brazilian Center for International Relations and a professor of the International Relations Program at Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado in São Paulo.”

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva proposes organizing supply chains, expanding domestic processing, and preventing the "simple export" of strategic raw materials.

“He proposes organizing supply chains, expanding domestic processing, and preventing the “simple export” of strategic raw materials.”

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro's program for critical minerals offers a market-oriented model where the state acts as a regulator and coordinator, not an entrepreneur.

“Meanwhile, Bolsonaro’s program offers a more market-oriented model: the state as regulator and coordinator rather than entrepreneur.”

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro's platform also rejects exporting raw materials and emphasizes domestic value addition and local employment.

“But Bolsonaro’s platform, for example, also rejects exporting raw materials and emphasizes domestic value addition and local employment.”

Brazil's new Law 15,506 establishes domestic value addition, technology transfer, regional development, and sovereignty as key objectives of its critical-minerals policy.

“Brazil’s new Law 15,506 makes domestic value addition, technology transfer, regional development, and sovereignty key objectives of its critical-minerals policy.”

When Brazil's Law 15,506 was debated in the Senate earlier in 2026, the bill received input and support from lawmakers across the political spectrum.

“When it was debated in the Senate earlier this year, the bill drew input and support from lawmakers across the political spectrum.”

Rare-earth deposits may contain naturally occurring radioactive materials like thorium, which involves nuclear-safety bodies in the extraction process.

“Rare-earth deposits may also contain naturally occurring radioactive materials such as thorium, bringing nuclear-safety bodies into the process.”

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's platform for Brazil's October 2026 election centers on strategic autonomy, universalist diplomacy, BRICS, and the Global South.

“President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s platform places strategic autonomy, universalist diplomacy, BRICS, and the Global South at the center of Brazil’s international role.”

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro favors negotiating with all countries, including China, the European Union, the United States, and Asian markets, while avoiding excessive dependence on any single partner.

“Bolsonaro favors negotiating with everyone, “from China to the European Union, from the United States to Asian markets,” while avoiding excessive dependence on any one partner.”

China absorbed 30.7% of Brazilian exports in the first eight months of 2026, while the U.S. absorbed 9.6%, according to official trade data.

“In the first eight months of this year, China absorbed 30.7% of Brazilian exports, compared with 9.6% for the U.S., according to official trade data.”

During his 2018 campaign, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro warned that China was "buying Brazil," and his foreign-policy advisers viewed Beijing as an ideological threat.

“During the 2018 campaign, he warned that China was “buying Brazil,” and advisers in his foreign-policy circle cast Beijing as an ideological threat.”

A study by CEBRI and Vallya for Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy estimates that China accounts for approximately 70% of global rare-earth production and 94% of magnet manufacturing.

“A study prepared for Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy by CEBRI and Vallya estimates that China accounts for about 70% of the world’s rare-earth production and 94% of magnet manufacturing.”