France is doing " everything " to " secure " deliveries of masks, assured Friday government spokesman Sibeth Ndiaye, indicating that he did not have details "on a possible escalation on the part of American buyers on Chinese tarmacs .
" If these behaviors exist, this is probably explained by the fact that there is a global tension on the supply of protective equipment ", explained on France 2 Ms. Ndiaye.
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“ We do everything to make our deliveries secure. This is the reason why, we set up an air bridge towards China, " she added, recalling that the government had ordered more than a billion masks for deliveries that go" s 'spread over several weeks '. Several presidents of French regions have denounced in recent days the takeover by unidentified American buyers of masks ordered in China by France.
" We spotted a stock of masks ten days ago, which we could not buy because others outbid them, they were ready to pay three times the market price ", said Friday Valérie Pécresse , the president of the Ile-de-France region, on Franceinfo.
" 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, " reported Jean Rottner, president of the Grand Est region, on Wednesday. The US government has denied, but these buyers could be private players.
The competition for the purchase of masks against the virus is merciless and the phenomenon worldwide. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Thursday called for an investigation after reports from Radio Canada that a shipment of masks purchased in China for Quebec had been delivered in smaller quantities than expected after a portion was sold "to the highest bidder " , Namely the United States.
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These snags sometimes occur inside the European Union. According to information from L'Express , France seized on March 5 on its territory masks belonging to the Swedish company Mölnlycke, which were intended for Spain and Italy.