Quad ministers slam economic coercion, pledge open supply chains

The foreign ministers of India, the United States, Australia and Japan on Saturday voiced "grave concern" over economic coercion tactics targeting global commerce, in an apparent reference to Chinese trade practices.

The Quad nations highlighted concerns over arbitrary export restrictions and non-market policies that create overcapacity and destabilise critical supply chains, according to a joint statement issued after their meeting in Atlanta. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi attended the gathering.

The four ministers reaffirmed their commitment to establishing dependable and open global supply chains alongside trusted and resilient infrastructure frameworks. The statement underscored the strategic importance of maintaining secure maritime routes and cooperative mechanisms to counter disruptive trade practices that undermine international commerce.

The Quad's coordinated statement reflects the grouping's broader agenda of promoting rules-based international order and economic resilience among Indo-Pacific democracies. The ministers' emphasis on supply chain security and transparent trade practices aligns with efforts to counterbalance protectionist economic policies that major powers have deployed in recent years.