Quad ministers flag economic coercion and supply chain risks

Quad foreign ministers met in Atlanta and voiced grave concern over coercive export restrictions. Their statement reinforced cooperation on resilient supply chains, maritime access and critical infrastructure.Washington,Nov 1, 2026 00:44 ISTThe foreign ministers of the Quad countries on Saturday expressed “grave concern” over economic coercion through arbitrary export restrictions and practices that disrupt global supply chains, news agency Press Trust of India reported.In an apparent reference to China, the ministers from India, the United States, Australia and Japan also raised concerns over non-market policies and practices that create excess capacity and disrupt supply chains in critical industries.In a joint statement issued after their meeting in Atlanta, the ministers reiterated their commitment to building reliable and open global supply chains and trusted, resilient infrastructure.The meeting was convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, according to PTI. The ministers underlined the importance of critical sea lanes, the uninterrupted flow of commerce, energy security, and the unhindered passage and safety of maritime crews and vessels without the imposition of tolls. They also reiterated the need to protect navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in line with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.This was the third Quad foreign ministers’ meeting this year, after meetings in New Delhi in May and Manila in July. Efforts are also underway to hold a Quad leaders’ summit hosted by US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the ASEAN-East Asia summits in mid-November, as the grouping focuses on secure supply chains, maritime access and resilient infrastructure. With PTI Inputs- Ends