The G20 foreign ministers met in Atlanta, Georgia, where they noted that the weaponisation of normal food supply chains has become a recurring challenge in the trading system.
The diplomats are concerned about governments’ targeted actions against the trade of food in order to apply pressure on another country over an unrelated geopolitical issue.
In a statement after a meeting on Saturday, they urged the global community to agree that trade in food and agricultural products “should not be used as a tool for economic or political coercion.”
On global energy disruptions, the ministers want secure, resilient, and seamless energy flows, including safe navigation through international waterways and the security of critical infrastructure.
The session discussed the accessibility of fertiliser for food production and security, raw materials for basic manufacturing, and critical minerals for energy security, emerging technologies, and advanced manufacturing.
The G20 members emphasised that the resilience of supply chains is dependent on information sharing, transparency, mobilising investment, and updating the permitting process and regulations.
In attendance were Foreign Ministers of Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, South Korea, and Mexico. South Africa was uninvited by the US due to ongoing bilateral tensions.
Other G20 member nations, the European Union, and the African Union sent representatives, while Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski attended as an invited guest.
Hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting took place ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Miami, Florida, which President Donald Trump is hosting.
The US Presidency focuses on economic prosperity by limiting regulatory burdens, affordable and secure energy supply chains, and innovations in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.