critical minerals Archives - Americas Quarterly

Towels and caps for sale depicting Brazilian presidential candidates Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro are seen in a residential area of Brasília on September 11, 2026. Brazil will hold a presidential elections on October 4, 2026. (Photo by Sergio Lima / AFP via Getty Images)

What Washington May Misread in Brazil’s Election

President Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro have more in common than meets the eye on key issues, including trade with China and critical minerals.

The Mountain Pass mine in California, pictured in April, is the only rare earths mine of its size operating in the Americas.

The Strategic Link Between USMCA and Critical Minerals

North American security requires that critical minerals be part of trade negotiations, writes a former Mexican ambassador to the U.S.

View from the hills outside Concepción, Chile, where Aclara plans to extract rare earths. Rare Earth Elements Are Trending. Will They Drive Latin America’s Next Mining Boom?

Rare Earth Elements Are Trending. Will They Drive Latin America’s Next Mining Boom?

The region has the ideal mix of these vital inputs for green technology—but low prices and permitting lags stand in the way.

A view of the Taiwan Strait, from the closest point in China to Taiwan’s main island, in Jan. 2024. China-Taiwan Tension, the Unseen Risk for Latin America

China-Taiwan Tension, the Unseen Risk for Latin America

The region is ill-prepared to confront the potential economic consequences of a conflict.

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