Brazil pushes back on US trade pressure as Lula says Trump envies China’s rare‑earth lead

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told ministers that U.S. President Donald Trump is “envious” of China’s dominance in rare‑earth minerals, a sector Brazil hopes to develop to add value to its own mineral resources. Lula said Brazil has the conditions to build its own technology and move beyond being a raw‑material supplier.

At the same time, the Brazilian government is seeking a final meeting with U.S. trade officials before a deadline on July 15, when the Trump administration could impose a 25 % tariff on Brazilian exports under a Section 301 investigation. Officials have discussed the possibility of easing the tariff but expect the decision will likely go ahead.

In response to the tariff threat, Brazil has accelerated market diversification, signing trade agreements with the EU‑EFTA bloc, Singapore and pursuing deals with Canada, Japan and other partners to reduce reliance on the United States.