beijingwalker
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2011
- Messages
- 65,195
- Reaction score
- -55
- Country
- Location
Canada says US blocked delivery of three million masks
US allies are complaining about what they called 'Wild West' tactics in outbidding or blocking medical shipments.
8 hours ago
Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaking during his unofficial swearing in a ceremony in Toronto, Ontario, Canada [File: Carlo Allegri/Reuters]
The premier of Ontario, Canada's largest province, on Monday, said the United States had blocked the delivery of three million face masks designed to help fight the coronavirus outbreak.
Doug Ford told Global News the incident had happened over the weekend and described it as "absolutely unacceptable". He also said the province's stock of personal protective equipment would run out in a week.
Allies of the US are complaining about what they call its "Wild West" tactics in outbidding or blocking shipments to buyers who have already signed deals for medical equipment.
US President Donald Trump has asked manufacturing firm 3M Co to pause the exports of domestically produced respirator masks to Canada and some Latin American countries.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sidestepped reporters' questions about the incident on Monday, saying his government was in productive talks with the US and adding: "We expect those shipments to be delivered."
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters that Ottawa was aware of "some difficulties" shipping the masks across the border and would do all it could to help.
"We are working intensely with the United States to ensure that all the masks that have been bought can be exported to Canada," she said when asked about Ford's complaint.
"We have had positive conversations and we are continuing to work to settle this matter," she added.
The US embassy in Ottawa was not immediately available for comment.
Separately, Canadian medical health officials said the death toll had risen to 293 from 258 on Sunday. The number of positive cases is now 15,822, up from 14,426.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/canada-blocked-delivery-million-masks-200406185442699.html
US allies are complaining about what they called 'Wild West' tactics in outbidding or blocking medical shipments.
8 hours ago
Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaking during his unofficial swearing in a ceremony in Toronto, Ontario, Canada [File: Carlo Allegri/Reuters]
The premier of Ontario, Canada's largest province, on Monday, said the United States had blocked the delivery of three million face masks designed to help fight the coronavirus outbreak.
Doug Ford told Global News the incident had happened over the weekend and described it as "absolutely unacceptable". He also said the province's stock of personal protective equipment would run out in a week.
Allies of the US are complaining about what they call its "Wild West" tactics in outbidding or blocking shipments to buyers who have already signed deals for medical equipment.
US President Donald Trump has asked manufacturing firm 3M Co to pause the exports of domestically produced respirator masks to Canada and some Latin American countries.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sidestepped reporters' questions about the incident on Monday, saying his government was in productive talks with the US and adding: "We expect those shipments to be delivered."
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters that Ottawa was aware of "some difficulties" shipping the masks across the border and would do all it could to help.
"We are working intensely with the United States to ensure that all the masks that have been bought can be exported to Canada," she said when asked about Ford's complaint.
"We have had positive conversations and we are continuing to work to settle this matter," she added.
The US embassy in Ottawa was not immediately available for comment.
Separately, Canadian medical health officials said the death toll had risen to 293 from 258 on Sunday. The number of positive cases is now 15,822, up from 14,426.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/canada-blocked-delivery-million-masks-200406185442699.html
