Article

President Donald Trump's initiative, known as 'Project Vault', aims to enhance US strategic mineral reserves by acquiring lithium and rare earth elements from Brazil, funded by $10 billion from the Export-Import Bank of the United States. This effort seeks to reduce American manufacturers' reliance on China for critical technology components, with the EXIM Bank showing interest in two Brazilian projects, including the Caldeira Project and the Bandeira Project. Announced in response to China's export restrictions, the broader plan includes a $12 billion investment in a US Strategic Reserve for Critical Minerals.