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Coronavirus: regions at the front in the mask war

2020-04-03T19:00:40.179Z


While all blows are allowed between countries to get supplies, the presidents of regions organize to try to secure the


Over 65 million! This is the number of masks ordered in less than a fortnight by the 13 regions, for a total slate of some 41 million euros ... A performance for local officials called to the rescue by a State which had found itself almost destitute at the start of the coronavirus war. A health war but also an economic war between the great world powers, conducive to the lowest blows and the most dull practices. Like these stocks robbed or these trucks robbed by "bastards" as qualified Xavier Bertrand, the boss of Hauts de France.

It is especially against the United States, whose president, Donald Trump, did not realize the seriousness of the epidemic until late, that the regions must fight. A “knife” fight intended to appropriate the Chinese market, the world's leading producer of FFP2 masks. In a few weeks, the price of these essential pieces for caregivers and "front line fighters", went from 1 euro to 1.70 euro.

An escalation fueled by the dizzying needs generated by the pandemic, especially in the territory of the first world power but also because, unlike the French, the Americans pay cash and often on the tarmac. "It's complicated, we fight 24 hours a day," sighs Jean Rottner, President Grand Est, a region strongly affected by the Covid-19 and who had to urgently order 5 million masks for medical staff, nursing homes, home help services, police and firefighters.

Ile-de-France relies on its Franco-Chinese community

"This is a real global treasure hunt, all countries are looking for masks", worries, meanwhile, Valérie Pécresse on France Info which has ordered 20 million masks in China. "We got a load taken by Americans who outbid, annoys the president of the Ile-de-France region. They were willing to pay three times the market price to get them and they paid without seeing the quality of the masks, which we cannot do. "

Faced with this unfair competition, Valérie Pécresse was able to rely on the very large Franco-Chinese community to secure the factories that supply the Ile-de-France. "Chinese companies have a contract with the region and will supply us very regularly, every week, throughout this crisis," she said.

For its part, the PACA region, to recover an order for 4 million masks, preferred to go through Ceva, a French charter shipping company, says Renaud Muselier, the president of the region "to be sure that no one will buy them on the tarmac. "

"Guarantee that the material arrives as quickly as possible"

To limit - marginally - their dependence on Chinese imports, the regions also mobilize the productive forces of their territory. In Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Laurent Wauquiez, who has already ordered 2 million masks based on local production of 70,000 pieces per week. "The regional headquarters in Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand have been transformed into logistics platforms to receive the ordered equipment and distribute it according to the most urgent needs," said an elected official from the region.

Xavier Bertrand is also looking for alternatives. "Textile manufacturers in my region or elsewhere are looking for solutions to move very quickly," said the president of Hauts-de-France on France Info. We are handing them over to healthcare professionals and we will continue to order them. " At the national level, too, the regional presidents organize themselves. "We have decided to pool our information on suppliers [...] and on past markets," said the Association of French Regions. We want to avoid duplicates and guarantee that the material arrives as quickly as possible to all those who need it. "

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2020-04-03

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