World

Quad Ministers Voice Serious Concerns Over Economic Coercion

By AFP

Foreign ministers from the United States, India, Japan and Australia met on Saturday, October 31, 2026, and jointly raised serious concerns about economic coercion, such as export curbs and practices that lead to overproduction. The statement issued by the Quad alliance in Atlanta, Georgia, said the four ministers expressed grave concerns regarding economic coercion, including through arbitrary export restrictions. The group also took aim at non‑market policies and practices that result in overcapacity, which they said disrupt global supply chains in critical industries. While the statement did not name any country, the criticisms are often directed at China, which has faced accusations of over‑relying on exports to boost growth and of imposing stringent export controls on rare earths. The ministers’ gathering early on Saturday took place on the sidelines of a G20 meeting hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. China, which views the Quad grouping with suspicion, has pushed back against accusations of overcapacity. The grouping also recognised 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. It called for the absolute necessity to protect and preserve navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait.