The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this Wednesday (4) the signing of a new agreement for the supply and processing of critical minerals for the USA, after a meeting in Washington. Brazil also participated in the multilateral meeting, but reported that it is still evaluating whether it will join the group.
American Vice President JD Vance stated at the meeting that his country seeks to bring together allies in a critical minerals trading bloc. Planalto sources explained to the Reuters that the Brazilian government has not yet made a decision on integration. Brazil was present at the meeting through the Embassy in Washington.
In the case of rare earths, Brazil has the second largest global reserves, behind only China, despite having few projects in development. This data attracts President Donald Trump’s interest in closing agreements with the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). One of the sources detailed to the agency that the PT’s management is evaluating a possible trip by Lula to Washington and that, if the topic is really of interest to the US, it could be put on the negotiation table.
While Brazil is experiencing an impasse on the matter, Argentina took a new step in its partnership with the Americans. “During the Ministerial Meeting on Critical Minerals convened by (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Argentine Republic and the US signed a Framework Instrument for Strengthening Supply in Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals through which they ratify their strategic association and their commitment to the development of a safe, resilient and competitive supply”, stated the Argentine Foreign Ministry.
Argentine minister Pablo Quirno said on his X account that the understanding with President Donald Trump’s government will generate “more exports, more investments and more jobs” for Argentina. In addition, he posted a photo next to Christopher Landau, Undersecretary of the US Department of State, whom he thanked “for their joint work and commitment to continue strengthening this strategic association.”
The statement adds that the signing of the agreement “aims to consolidate more solid and diversified value chains, generate a favorable environment for the arrival of long-term productive investments and respond to the growth in global demand and the application of cutting-edge technologies”.
The text highlights that the joint decision takes place in a context of “macroeconomic stability and clear and predictable rules for investment”, in which Argentina seeks to grow in the mining sector, aiming for exports, according to President Javier Milei’s government, of “more than US$30 billion by the end of the next decade”.
In August last year, Argentina and the USA signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in critical minerals, such as lithium, of which the South American country is the fourth largest producer in the world (behind Australia, Chile and China), the third in reserves (behind Chile and Australia) and the second in resources (behind Bolivia).
