US official meets mining executives in Brazil to discuss rare earths, sources say

By Lisandra Paraguassu and Marta Nogueira

BRASILIA/SALVADOR, Brazil, Oct 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Brazil, Gabriel Escobar, held meetings with mining executives during an industry event on Tuesday to discuss rare earths, three sources familiar with the matter said.

The meetings were held on the sidelines of an event in Salvador, in the northeastern state of Bahia, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The topic of rare earths is expected to be raised in negotiations between the U.S. and Brazil aimed at removing tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Brazilian goods.

The discussions also indicate how the U.S. is working to find alternative suppliers amid trade disputes with China, which dominates the rare earths market, one of the sources said.

According to this source, who attended the meeting, Escobar discussed partnerships that could be formed between U.S. companies and miners already operating in Brazil to explore rare earths.

Despite little production, Brazil has vast reserves of these minerals, which are essential for high-tech equipment manufacturing.

Another source said Australia's St George Mining SGQ.AX, which has a rare earths project in Minas Gerais state, was at the meeting with the U.S. official.

Julio Nery, director of mining lobby group Ibram, confirmed that Escobar met with representatives from the sector, but did not provide details about the discussions.

"He already met with Ibram three or four times and requested a meeting with Raul Jungmann,” Nery added, referring to Ibram's president.