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Coronavirus: regions fear "theft" of masks by the Americans

2020-04-02T19:09:33.244Z


The Americans are trying to steal orders for masks on the tarmacs of Chinese airports.


The Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has repeatedly said this for several months: "International cooperation and solidarity are essential to solve the problem" of the coronavirus. So obviously, countries are cooperating in the repatriation of patients, send their experts, share their data on the disease. Cease-fires have even been concluded in several armed conflicts in the Philippines, Cameroon or Yemen.

Read also: How masks stop viruses

However, the various states affected by the pandemic have been waging a merciless war for several weeks to supply themselves with masks. In France, production capacities in this area will not allow independence until "at the end of the year" , Emmanuel Macron promised this week during his visit to the Kolmi-Hopen factory, in the suburbs of Angers. In the meantime, 1.5 billion units have been urgently purchased from China. But, faced with the enormous needs of caregivers, nursing homes and other professionals, communities also ordered 60 million masks last week. With losses and noise.

The Americans in pole

The tarmacs at Chinese airports have in fact been invested by American buyers, there to steal orders just before loading. Because across the Atlantic, there is a shortage of protective equipment. "They outbid three times the price, bought masks they had never seen," said Thursday the president of the Ile-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse. These payments would be made "in cash" , according to the president of the Paca region, Renaud Muselier, "in defiance of the rules of trade", tells us a well informed source. “Until the plane takes off, we are not sure of anything. Afterwards, you have to wait while watching Flight Radar, ” says the same source.

Read also: China activates mask diplomacy

According to our information, the Île-de-France region has finally succeeded in securing its supply chain, thanks to the Chinese community and diversification from different suppliers. Five million masks were received on Wednesday in Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis). Fortunately for the public accounts, these were bought "at market price" , welcomed Valérie Pécresse on Thursday. This material will soon be distributed to carers, EHPAD, associations, departments and mayors. "It is shameful to have so many difficulties in obtaining supplies," is indignant in the entourage of a regional president.

"Until the plane takes off, we are not sure of anything"

A knowledgeable source

In the space of a few weeks, the cost of the surgical mask has almost doubled, from 0.25 euros to 0.40 euros. The FFP2 mask has gone from 1 euro to 1.70 euro. The cost of transportation has almost tripled. "The problem is that everything is paid in dollars, and that Americans can pay directly," says an industry source. "We got stuck orders because we did not pay fast enough , " testified Thursday evening on TF1 Vladimir Silberman, CEO of the company BIFP, responsible for the import of masks for the Auvergne-Rhône Alpes regions and Occitanie.

"We fight 24 hours a day"

Jean Rottner, president of the Grand Est region, greatly affected by the Covid-19, went there for his comment Wednesday evening. " It's complicated, we fight 24 hours a day, " he said at the microphone of RTL. Before adding: “Me, I have a small cell at the regional level which works very hard to, with the sponsors, be able to win these markets. And indeed, on the tarmac, the Americans take out the cash and pay three or four times for the orders we have made, so we really have to fight. And I was very happy to see this plane arrive at our house last night. ”

Read also: Coronavirus: masks, French weakness

To recover an order for four million masks, ready since Saturday, the Paca region has for its part decided to go through Ceva, a French charter shipping company based in Marseille, logistics subsidiary of the shipowner CMA-CGM. "At least I'm sure no one is going to buy them from me on the tarmac." Normally, they are on their way to the airport. But I remain cautious of Sioux, it's an incredible obstacle course " from a logistical point of view, told Renaud Muselier on Wednesday.

"Worry"

Contacted by Le Figaro , a region in the north of France evokes her "concern" about this story of stolen orders. However, nothing has yet been put in place to try to secure the supply chain. In the Pays de la Loire region, an order for 1.5 million masks was placed, and 280,000 were delivered on Thursday. "We know it will happen over time , " we observe. “The distributor is considered to be reliable. These are well-known companies in the region, which have subsidiaries in China. One of the guarantees is to pay the right price, ”we reassure.

Read also: Coronavirus: France has ordered 1.5 billion masks

In Occitania, the delivery of 10 million copies is expected. If the region does not say concerned by the American attacks, it noted a delay "mainly due to the saturation of the hubs". "However, the region remains vigilant until receipt of orders and calls for strong action from the French State so that freight can benefit from the guarantee of the France - China airlift , " it was reported. In Brittany, two million masks are expected at the end of the week or the beginning of the following week via Roissy. And for the moment, we are touching wood: "We just know, from our logistics provider, that they are at this time between their place of production and the Shanghai airport" .

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-04-02

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