Washington-Sana
US President Donald Trump has threatened India with retaliation if it does not allow the export of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of malaria, which Trump saw as a factor in bringing about change in the fight against the emerging corona virus.
Trump last week called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to provide the United States with this drug and said that "Modi will have to inform him of his decision in this regard personally."
The Indian "News Bites" website quoted Trump as telling a news conference at the White House that he would "be surprised" if India refused his request in this regard.
Commenting on the call, Trump added: "I told him during the call that we would appreciate his position if the vaccine was allowed to launch, and if this matter was not allowed, there is nothing wrong with that, but there could be a response ... and why not."
It is not known how much Trump has asked for Modi, but given the repeated talk by the American President about this drug recently, he certainly wants to get it as soon as possible.
India is one of the largest producers of hydroxychloroquine and it recently banned its export with other drugs in order to be able to store a sufficient quantity for local needs, although its effectiveness in fighting the Corona virus is still under study.
The site indicated that these Trump threats may be a reference to the trade agreement between India and the United States, which was not signed last February when Trump visited India.
The "Zedos Pharmaceutical Institute", which is a branch of the "Cadilla Limited Healthcare" based in Ahmedabad, India, is the main supplier of this drug to the United States and the company has announced its intention to expand its production to provide global demand before the outbreak of the new Corona epidemic.
In this context, India today announced a partial lift to prevent the export of hydroxychloroquine after Trump's threats.
The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that New Delhi would allow the export of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol, which it banned from exporting last month, in “appropriate quantities to all neighboring countries that depend on India’s productive capabilities. It will also provide these essential medicines to some of the countries affected more than others”.
