Coronavirus: Donald Trump to force government to buy US medical supplies in extended ‘Buy America’ programme amid concerns over China, says trade adviser
- Adviser Peter Navarro says president plans to sign executive order requiring federal agencies to buy US-made medical products and pharmaceuticals
- Business leaders and officials fear move could prompt China to curb urgently needed shipments of N95 masks and other protective gear
US President Donald Trump will soon sign an executive order requiring federal agencies to purchase only American-made medical products, a White House official said on Monday.
The order, according to Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro, will help spur lagging medical manufacturing in the US. But critics say it could result in China restricting exports of desperately needed protective gear to the US as the country scrambles to battle the coronavirus.
Speaking on Fox News on Monday, Navarro – who has been put in charge of coordinating the American production of medical supplies – announced the new order, saying that the coronavirus outbreak had laid bare America’s over-reliance on China.
Navarro, a noted China hawk, has been vocal about what he contends was Beijing’s role in the coronavirus pandemic.
“China spawned the virus and they hid the virus for about six weeks, which allowed that virus to escape Wuhan and infect the world,” he said on Monday, “and then during that time, China hoarded an enormous amount of personal protective gear.
