Finance Minister Dario Durigan traveled over the weekend to Paris to participate in the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting — a group formed by the United States, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada — on May 18-19. Brazil participates as an invited country, according to Agência Brasil. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Durigan chega a Paris na segunda-feira (18) para participar da reunião de ministros das Finanças e presidentes de Bancos Centrais do G7, grupo formado por Estados Unidos, Alemanha, Japão, Reino Unido, França, Itália e Canadá. O Brasil participa como país convidado."
This is Durigan's second international trip since taking command of the economic team in March 2026, after Fernando Haddad's departure, who left the position to run for governor of São Paulo. Durigan served as executive secretary of the Finance Ministry before his appointment. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"A publicação também trouxe a exoneração de Fernando Haddad, que deixou a pasta para concorrer ao governo de São Paulo."
"Até então, Dario Durigan exercia função como secretário-executivo do Ministério da Fazenda, o número dois na linha de comando da pasta."
The agenda includes a meeting with French AI startup Mistral AI and bilateral encounters with foreign authorities, including Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and the executive director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol. The minister will also visit the newsroom of Le Monde newspaper and participate in a roundtable by Le Grand Continent magazine. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"À tarde, no horário local, Durigan visitará a startup francesa de inteligência artificial Mistral AI, onde terá reunião com o CEO da empresa, Arthur Mensch."
"Após o almoço ministerial, Durigan se reunirá com a ministra- elegada para Inteligência Artificial da França, Anne Le Hénanff, e com a ministra das Finanças do Japão, Satsuki Katayama."
Durigan intends to present Brazil as a strategic alternative in the global critical minerals market — rare earths, niobium and graphene — in opposition to Chinese dominance, according to his statements on TV Brasil's "Na Mesa com Datena" program. The government wants to expand foreign investment in Brazil's mineral sector without giving up national control over natural resources. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Durigan afirmou que pretende aproveitar a viagem para apresentar o Brasil como alternativa estratégica no mercado global de minerais críticos. Esses elementos são considerados essenciais para a indústria tecnológica e para a transição energética. Entre os materiais citados pelo governo estão terras raras, nióbio e grafeno. Atualmente, a China domina grande parte da produção mundial desses insumos."
Originally, the trip to France would be the second leg of a journey that would include the New Development Bank (BRICS Bank) meeting in Russia, but Durigan cancelled the Moscow trip after the closure of the Russian capital's airport due to Ukrainian drone attacks. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O ministro da Fazenda, Dario Durigan, cancelou nesta quarta-feira (13) a viagem oficial que faria à Rússia após o fechamento do aeroporto de Moscou. O chefe da equipe econômica participaria de reuniões do Novo Banco de Desenvolvimento (NDB), conhecido como Banco dos Brics."
Durigan participated in the G7 meeting in Paris on May 18-19, 2026, with Brazil as an invited country
The Russia trip for BRICS meeting was cancelled due to Moscow airport closure
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (1)
This is Durigan's second international trip as Finance Minister
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What are the concrete expected results from bilateral meetings with G7 authorities?
Why it's still unknown: Sources did not specify measurable objectives or expected results from bilateral encounters beyond presenting Brazil as an alternative for critical minerals
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What is Brazil's official position on other central G7 agenda items (AI regulation, fiscal cooperation, international trade)?
Why it's still unknown: Sources only mention the critical minerals agenda, without detailing Brazil's position on other G7 agenda themes
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How does cancelling the Russia trip affect Brazil's relations with other BRICS members?
Why it's still unknown: Sources did not explore the diplomatic implications of cancelling participation in the New Development Bank meeting