U.S. sent millions of face masks to China early this year, ignoring pandemic warning signs

[babylonsister]

In light of yesterday's revelations, this seems even more criminal

U.S. sent millions of face masks to China early this year, ignoring pandemic warning signs
In January and February, the United States shipped millions of masks to China from companies such as 3M.
In January and February, the United States shipped millions of masks to China from companies such as 3M. (Justin Chin/Bloomberg)
By Juliet Eilperin, Jeff Stein, Desmond Butler and Tom Hamburger
April 18, 2020 at 2:13 p.m. EDT


U.S. manufacturers shipped millions of dollars’ worth of face masks and other protective medical equipment to China in January and February with encouragement from the federal government, a Washington Post review of economic data and internal government documents has found. The move underscores the Trump administration’s failure to recognize and prepare for the growing pandemic threat.

In those two months, the value of protective masks and related items exported from the United States to China grew more than 1,000 percent compared with the same time last year — from $1.4 million to about $17.6 million, according to a Post analysis of customs categories which, according to research by Public Citizen, contain key personal protective equipment (PPE). Similarly, shipments of ventilators and protective garments jumped by triple digits.

“Instead of taking steps to prepare, they ignored the advice of one expert after another,” said Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Tex.). “People right now, as we speak, are dying because there have been inadequate supplies of PPE.”

While the percentage increase of exports to China was steep, they represent a small fraction of the overall U.S. need. Throughout the country, the shortage has forced hospitals, nursing homes and first responders to ration masks and other protective gear as they treat infected and high-risk patients, creating a secondary health crisis among first line providers.

more...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/us-sent-millions-of-face-masks-to-china-early-this-year-ignoring-pandemic-warning-signs/2020/04/18/aaccf54a-7ff5-11ea-8013-1b6da0e4a2b7_story.html

[stillcool]

1. and all the PPE the feds confiscated from the states..

where'd that end up? As always, the money leads. We know so much, but at the same time we know nothing. We read the stories, but there's never an ending. Just stuff moving around.

[DSandra]

10. How many nurses and doctors have died because

They didn’t get PPE because of Trumps incompetency or even malice?


Over 900 healthcare workers have died as of a month ago...

https://khn.org/news/exclusive-over-900-health-workers-have-died-of-covid-19-and-the-toll-is-rising/

[stillcool]

11. Yeah, the human cost is inexplicable...

from day 1, people knew how to prepare, and what needed to be done. Worse than doing nothing, the administration produced obstacles for states trying to get what they need. The federal government outbidding states for ppe. Ugh. When I read what I just wrote, it's unfathomable that we're living through this whacked out reality.

[DSandra]

12. Pathological Narcissists, Sociopaths, and Machiavellians are extremely dangerous to society

If society is to be preserved, every effort must be made to suppress the free reign of these people. Unfettered capitalism has made America a breeding ground of these people, and the infestation has gotten to a critical level now.

[GusBob]

2. Does this actually bolster yesterdays news from Woodward?

The Chinese leader told DT the virus was deadly, highly contagious and airborne, so he arranged to have the masks sent there?

[lagomorph777]

8. Exactly. It's biological warfare against the USA.

Not a coincidence. A series of acts of treason.

[stopdiggin]

3. slightly new light

but not really a whole lot. Since nobody actually believed the "downplay" or "under control" hogwash anyway.

The PPE was shipped (by private concerns) -- because that's what generally happens during a international crisis. It was kind of SOP.

Was the administration incompetent and unprepared on virtually every conceivable level?
Yes -- and according to most measures the Pope is still Catholic.
But I don't think we should confuse science becoming subservient to politics -- as a lack of understanding on anybody's part. That was never the problem.

[babylonsister]

4. Nobody believed it?

There are many fools who take him at his word despite facts to the contrary. Witness the ones who injected disinfectant or are munching away on hydroxychloroquine.

[stopdiggin]

6. and they're not making policy decisions

or "facilitating" shipments to China.
So -- in the context of the discussion or the OP? Nobody.

I don't concern myself much with the goobers in Mississippi. Except when they're shooting up churches or schools (or peaceful protests). And, yes the Donald does inherit some (large) measure of responsibility there -- but that's a different discussion.
----- -----

[fescuerescue]

5. meh. I'm 50/50 on that one

China certainly needed them in January.

Chinese people are no less human than us. And if it had been contained in China. It wouldn't be here now.

In any event, it sounds like the manufacturers sold them to China. I don't think that it was a Trump directed operation.


SO i'm ok with helping fellow humans. We didn't need them in January and China desperately did.

We should have used the lead time to make more for us though.

[stopdiggin]

9. Thank you! That's it exactly.

No need to turn an ordinary compassionate gesture into a political football.

Plenty of other things to point to in this whole bumfuggle mess.

[lagomorph777]

7. Trump/Putin have been waging biological war against the USA.

We have to make them pay a very high price.