Berlin says that US confiscated 200,000 masks (FFP2 and FFP3) at airport in Bangkok that were ordered for Berlin police. Masks were produced by a 3M factory (US company) in China. City of Berlin says this is "modern piracy" and urges Merkel government to address this with the US. https://twitter.com/JuliusBetschka/status/1246073517193351168">https://twitter.com/JuliusBet...

Since this got attention from English speakers, I want to translate what local politicians had to say: "We think of this as an act of modern piracy. This is not how you treat transatlantic partners", said Berlin& #39;s minister of the interior, Andreas Geisel. https://www.berlin.de/sen/inneres/presse/pressemitteilungen/2020/pressemitteilung.915948.php">https://www.berlin.de/sen/inner...

He also said: "Even in times of global crisis you shouldn& #39;t use methods from the Wild West. I request that the German government urges the US government to follow international rules." (same source)

Berlin& #39;s mayor Michael Müller said: "The corona pandemic needs global solidarity and responsible policy. The actions taken by the US president are anything but that. They are inhumane and unacceptable." https://twitter.com/RegBerlin/status/1246076088578502659?s=20">https://twitter.com/RegBerlin...