The director of the Brazil Program, Bruna Santos, participated in BrazilCham Talks: Episode #4 – “Energy Transition and Critical Minerals: The Case for Closer Brazil–US Collaboration”, a podcast organized by the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce.
Hosted by Amadeu Ribeiro, partner at DLA Piper and chair of the Chamber’s Investing in Brazil Committee, the conversation explored why Brazil–US relations are entering a more pragmatic, opportunity-driven phase; where Brazil’s true strengths and constraints lie; what it would take for the country to move into higher-value segments such as EV battery production; and how both nations can collaborate to support environmental stewardship and local communities.
COMMENTS FROM SANTOS:
“Brazil is one of the few countries that can turn minerals plus clean power into a true green industrial platform. […] If you bring energy-intensive activities here, your product leaves the factory gate with a much lower embedded carbon footprint.”
“So you move from a relationship defined by political mood swings to one defined by strategic indispensability. The U.S. can’t build a resilient clean-energy and defense economy without reliable access to critical minerals. Brazil can’t fully monetize its mineral wealth without partners that can provide capital, technology, and market access. That shared reality is what’s opening a window for a deeper, more practical partnership than we’ve seen before.”
