Lula: No company can sell critical mineral without talking to the government
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday (28) that no company could sell Brazilian critical minerals without prior government authorization. In a speech during the inauguration of a natural gas thermoelectric plant in Rio de Janeiro, the chief executive reinforced the defense of national sovereignty on strategic mineral wealth and announced the creation of a special commission to map and control these reserves.
“The time we have permission to a company, she can’t sell without talking to the government, let alone sell the area that has the ore, because that’s ours, that’s a person called Brazilian people,” said Lula. “The Brazilian people have to have the right to enjoy this wealth that these things can produce,” he added.
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The statement occurs after US business officer in Brazil states that Washington has an interest in Brazilian critical minerals, fundamental to cutting -edge technologies. Lula reacted promising rigor in controlling these resources. “If I don’t even know these minerals and they are already critical, I will take it to me. Why am I going to leave another to catch?” Asked the president.
According to Lula, the country knows only about 30% of its mineral riches. “We have to give authorization to companies research under our control,” he said, noting that the exploitation and commercialization of these minerals will also be supervised directly by the government.
Pressure on US tariffs
At the same event, the president appealed to US President Donald Trump to negotiate the trade fares imposed on Brazil. Starting this week, a 50% rate on Brazilian products begins to be in force in the US.
“I hope the president of the United States reflects the importance of Brazil and decides to do what in the civilized world we do: have divergence? Do you feel at a table, put the divergence on the side and we will try to solve,” Lula said, criticizing the measure as “abrupt and individual”.
Trump justified the decision based on the treatment given to former President Jair Bolsonaro, who responds to accusations of attempted coup. The Brazilian government tries to reopen negotiations, but, according to diplomats heard by the Reutersthere was no response to the counter -proposal sent in May.
(with Reuters)
