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The US president moving to ban the export of vital medical supplies in a global pandemic feels like a bit of moment in history... https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-03/trump-invokes-act-to-prevent-equipment-from-being-hoarded
The take from @wendyscutler:
“Ordering U.S. companies not to export medical equipment and materials while urgently needing imports of these products from around the world is a losing strategy.
We can’t have it both ways — restrict exports while we scour the world for imports.”
“Ordering U.S. companies not to export medical equipment and materials while urgently needing imports of these products from around the world is a losing strategy.
We can’t have it both ways — restrict exports while we scour the world for imports.”
Here is key line in presidential memo:
“To ensure that these scarce or threatened PPE materials remain in the US ... it is the policy of the US to prevent domestic brokers, distributors, and other intermediaries from diverting such material overseas.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-allocating-certain-scarce-threatened-health-medical-resources-domestic-use/
“To ensure that these scarce or threatened PPE materials remain in the US ... it is the policy of the US to prevent domestic brokers, distributors, and other intermediaries from diverting such material overseas.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-allocating-certain-scarce-threatened-health-medical-resources-domestic-use/
The WH also put out a statement.
It ends with: “Nothing in this order will interfere with the ability of PPE manufacturers to export when doing so is consistent with US policy and in the national interest of the US.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-regarding-defense-production-act-3/
It ends with: “Nothing in this order will interfere with the ability of PPE manufacturers to export when doing so is consistent with US policy and in the national interest of the US.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-regarding-defense-production-act-3/
So to sum it up:
The policy of the US is to stop exports of medical supplies (memo). But exports of supplies will be allowed if they are in line with policy (statement).
I think this may be what they call a Catch-22.
The policy of the US is to stop exports of medical supplies (memo). But exports of supplies will be allowed if they are in line with policy (statement).
I think this may be what they call a Catch-22.
My colleague @josh_wingrove (who is a very tall Canadian) offers this thread: https://twitter.com/josh_wingrove/status/1246198511684771841?s=21 https://twitter.com/josh_wingrove/status/1246198511684771841
And here is the take from @ChadBown, who has documented how Trump’s tariffs on China hurt US preparedness for the pandemic. (Remember the trade wars?)
https://twitter.com/chadbown/status/1246262107915653121?s=21 https://twitter.com/chadbown/status/1246262107915653121
https://twitter.com/chadbown/status/1246262107915653121?s=21 https://twitter.com/chadbown/status/1246262107915653121
