There will be no "mineral bargaining" against American pressure.

Its people and its subsoil are the inalienable riches of a country. Citizens and their historical cultural roots are not surrendered to the dominion of another nation, nor are foreigners allowed to exploit and take away its mineral treasures. When Lula states that no one will lay a hand on Brazilian subsoil, he behaves like a statesman and leader of a sovereign nation.

A fourth reason for Trump's tariff hike against Brazil has become clear to everyone. The first is the American president's ideological willingness to save his Brazilian lackey from jail; the second, the alignment with big tech companies against regulating their role in society; the third, the fear that BRICS will consolidate as a trade network free from American control; and the fourth, now, the desire to possess Brazilian niobium, lithium, and rare earth elements, among other minerals.

The panel is intricate, but it attests to the well-known imperialism of the United States, especially under Trump. Perhaps the question is pertinent: wouldn't four hidden fronts behind a sanctioning act be too far-fetched? It seems not. The outcry for tariffs, even to the detriment of the United States itself, would not be justified in itself.

In a meeting with the president of Ibram, Raul Jungmann, the Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Brazil, Gabriel Escobar, highlighted the American interest in critical and strategic minerals abundant in Brazil — especially niobium, lithium, and rare earth elements. These are the so-called MCEs, fundamental minerals for cutting-edge technologies such as chips, batteries, and turbines, which are strategic for American industry.

As is well known, the United States is concerned about its dependence on China in mineral supply chains. Brazil, which possesses large reserves, is seen as a safe alternative, although it imposes regulatory and environmental restrictions on foreign investment.

Would a “mineral bargain” alleviate commercial and political pressures on Brazil, including the actions against ministers of the Supreme Federal Court? It would be possible if Brazil were president to someone other than Lula. The Brazilian president's immediate stance, stating that no one will touch the country's mineral wealth, tells the United States to forget about it.