US accused of ‘piracy’ over mask ‘confiscation’
THE UNITED STATES has been accused of redirecting 200,000 Germany-bound masks for its own use, in a move condemned as "modern piracy".
The local government in Berlin said the shipment of US-made masks was "confiscated" in Bangkok.
The FFP2 masks, which were ordered by Berlin's police force, didn't reach their destination, it said.
Andreas Geisel, Berlin's interior minister, said the masks were presumably diverted to the united states.
The US company that makes the masks, 3M, has been prohibited from exporting its medical products abroad under a Korean-War-era law invoked by President Donald Trump.
On Friday, Mr Trump said he was using the Defence Production Act to demand that US companies provide more medical supplies to meet domestic demand.
"We need these items immediately for domestic use. We must have them," Mr Trump said at the daily Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the White House.
He said US authorities had taken custody of practically 200,000 N95 respirators, 130,000 surgical masks and 600,000 gloves. He didn't say where these were taken into US hands.
Mr Geisel said the diversion of masks from Berlin amounted to an "act of modern piracy", urging the Trump administration to stick to international trading rules.
"This is simply not how you cope with transatlantic partners," the minister said. "Even in times of global crisis, there must be no wild-west methods."
A 'treasure hunt' for masks
Mr Geisel's comments echo the sentiments of other European officials, who've complained about the buying and diversion practices of the united states.
In France, for example, regional leaders say they are struggling to secure medical supplies as American buyers outbid them.
The president of the Île-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse, compared the scramble for masks to a "treasure hunt".
"I came across a stock of masks that was available and Americans - I'm not discussing the American government - but Americans, outbid us," Ms Pécresse said. "They offered 3 x the price plus they proposed to pay up-front."
As the coronavirus pandemic worsens, demand for crucial medical supplies, such as masks and respirators, has surged worldwide.
Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had been considering changing its help with whether persons should wear face masks in public.
At present, the WHO advises that masks usually do not provide adequate protection from infection to justify mass usage. But some countries have taken a different view, including the US.
On Friday, Mr Trump announced that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will now recommend that Americans use non-medical, cloth face coverings to greatly help avoid the spread of the virus.
THE UNITED STATES has 273,880 recorded cases of Covid-19, the highest number on earth by a sizable margin.
Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, has affected multiple million persons and killed almost 60,000 globally, the most recent figures show.
'Significant humanitarian implications'
In another development, 3M said the Trump administration had asked it to stop exporting US-made N95 respirator masks to Canada and Latin America.
The request had "significant humanitarian implications", the business warned, and may prompt other countries to do something in kind.
The business says it manufactures about 100 million N95 masks monthly - in regards to a third are made in america, and the others produced overseas.
President Trump said he previously used the Defence Production Act to "hit 3M hard", without providing additional details. Regulations goes back to 1950 and allows a president to force companies to create products for national defence.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Friday that "it would be a blunder to create blockages or reduce trade".
