Vale is threatening to leave the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) because Rio Tinto is suing the Brazilian miner, local media reported on Tuesday.
According to reports, Vale wrote a letter to the ICMM stating it could leave the council. Earlier this year, London-based miner Rio Tinto sued Vale over control of Guinea's Simandou, an iron ore-rich deposit.
At that time, Rio Tinto said Vale used “highly confidential” information in its favor: Vale would have realized that assuming control of the deposit could strengthen its position in the high-grade iron ore market, reports said.
If Vale leaves the council, it will become the first major company to do so since 2001.