US critical minerals proposals to Brazil go unanswered as China looms

The US has sent two proposals to Brazil to formalize cooperation on critical minerals, but so far, they have gone unanswered. This lack of response is significant because it means Washington may not secure a bilateral deal with Brazil to build rare earth supply chains outside of China. The US is racing to diversify its supply chains due to concerns about China's dominance in the critical minerals market, and a deal with Brazil would be an important step in achieving this goal.

Why it matters

The US is seeking cooperation on critical minerals with Brazil, but Brazil has not responded. This lack of response may lead to increased trade tension between the two countries, as the US is concerned about China's growing influence in the region.

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