Quadrilateral Leaders Announce Key Minerals "Initiative"

The Quad is mainly a forum for discussing security issues, but Washington hopes to expand it to economic and trade areas. 30 or 40 companies from the four countries plan to discuss cooperation on Tuesday, including diversifying the supply chain of key "minerals".

According to Reuters, the United States announced on Tuesday an initiative on key minerals with Australia, India, and Japan as part of an effort to counter China's efforts.

The four countries that make up the "Quad" are concerned about China's growing strength and its dominant position in the field of critical minerals, despite the global tariff campaign initiated by Trump, which has affected each member state and tested the Quad relationship.

In a joint statement issued after the Washington talks, the foreign ministers of the US, Japan, India, and Australia said they were launching the "Quad Critical Minerals Initiative," stating that the initiative "ambitiously expands our partnership by working together to ensure the security and diversification of key mineral supply chains, thereby strengthening economic security and collective resilience."

US Secretary of State Rubio said: The four countries are important strategic partners, and now is the time to "take action" on specific issues.

30-40 companies

He also said that 30 or 40 companies from the four countries plan to hold a meeting at the US Department of State on Tuesday to discuss cooperation matters, including the diversification of the supply chain of key "minerals", which is currently dominated by China.

AFP reported that US Secretary of State Rubio, when welcoming his three counterparts, did not directly mention China, but emphasized the necessary cooperation between the US and these three countries, especially in the field of raw materials.

Rubio said one of his goals is to "diversify the global supply chain of key minerals - not only to obtain raw materials, but also to gain the ability to process and refine them into usable materials."

He said, "This is crucial for all technologies and all industries," and he hopes for "real progress" within the Quad on this issue.

The Quad is mainly a forum for discussing security issues, but Washington hopes to expand it to the economic and trade areas.

AFP reported that China has repeatedly opposed the organization, suspecting it of trying to contain China's rise.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836552917849100/

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