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‘We need the masks, we don't want other people getting them’: Trump denies US medical supplies ‘piracy’ ‘We need the masks, we don't want others getting them’: Trump denies US medical supplies ‘piracy’
(32 minutes later)
Addressing the accusations of ‘modern piracy’ for diverting shipments of vital protective masks from its allies in Germany, France and Canada to the US, President Donald Trump claimed the situation was the exact ‘opposite.’ Dismissing the accusations of ‘modern piracy’ for seizing and diverting shipments of vital protective masks from its allies in Germany and France to the US, President Donald Trump claimed the situation was the exact ‘opposite.’
The United States is suffering a severe medical-grade face cover shortage, even with federal authorities distributing millions of masks from the federal stockpiles, Trump said, noting that some of the states that have not been hit too hard yet are still demanding much more supplies than needed. Asked about the controversy over the White House pressuring safety gear manufacturer 3M to prioritize and step up imports of protective masks from its Chinese factories to the US – at the expense of other customers, including America’s closest allies – Trump dismissed the accusations of “modern piracy.”
When asked about the controversy with the White House pressuring safety gear manufacturer 3M to step up imports of protective masks from its Chinese factories to the US – at the expense of other customers, including America’s closest allies – Trump dismissed the accusations of “modern piracy.”
“We are very disappointed in 3M... they can sell to others, but they should be taking care of our country,” Trump added in the true spirit of ‘America First policy.
Trump did not clarify what exactly he meant by the ‘opposite of piracy’, apparently suggesting that there were some sort of legal grounds for seizing the shipments.
Trump did not clarify what exactly he meant by the ‘opposite of piracy’, apparently suggesting that there were some legal grounds for seizing the shipments. Earlier this week, a delivery of 200,000 masks left a 3M factory in China for the German capital – only to be confiscated en route and diverted to the US, according to Berlin's Senator for the Interior Andreas Geisel, who who shamed the supposed “transatlantic partners” for this “act of modern piracy.” Earlier this week, a delivery of 200,000 masks left a 3M factory in China for the German capital – only to be confiscated en route and diverted to the US, according to Berlin's Senator for the Interior Andreas Geisel, who who shamed the supposed “transatlantic partners” for this “act of modern piracy.”
“If people do not give us what we need for our people, we are going to be very tough,” Trump said, answering a separate question about the US pressure on 3M. “You could call it a retaliation, because that’s what it is.” “If people do not give us what we need for our people, we are going to be very tough,” Trump said, answering a separate question about the pressure on 3M to prioritize orders from the US.
“We are using the Defense Production Act very powerfully. Sometimes directly, in many cases indirectly, just a threat of it is usually enough," Trump added.
DETAILS TO FOLLOW Despite Trump "working hard" with 3M to make sure his order for 180 million N-95 respirators is fulfilled as soon as possible, the United States is suffering a severe medical-grade face cover shortage. 
Meanwhile Trump noted that some of the states in America, that have not been hit too hard yet, are still demanding much more supplies than needed, even with authorities distributing millions of masks from the federal stockpiles.
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