Covid: Macron calls on US to drop vaccine export bans

[SouthBayDem]

Source: BBC

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the US to drop its restrictions on the export of Covid-19 vaccines and ingredients.

His words came as a divide emerged between parts of Europe and the US over how best to increase global vaccine production.

Currently, around 1.25bn doses have been administered around the world.

However, less than 1% have been given to the world's 29 poorest countries, according to news agency AFP.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57039362

[pandr32]

1. We need to do all we can to help our allies

[JohnSJ]

2. It isn't mentioned in the article, but I would hope Macron directly discussed his concerns with

the Biden Administration, and not just arguing it publicly before the EU.

President Biden has been on the job about four months, and was left a tremendous mess by the former guy, who did everything to sabotage U.S. foreign policy, and their entire handling of the pandemic

[Steelrolled]

3. It seems we are fast approaching the time that we will have surpluses.

So the timing is about right.

I have no respect for macron after he called for Biden for greater US military involvement in the mideast. What a jerk.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. To give the US its due, it appears it has already sent doses to Mexico

Mexica’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, said on Friday the US will probably send his country 5m more doses of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, as the company admitted production in Central and South America had suffered multiple setbacks.

Struggling with local AstraZeneca production and shortfalls in deliveries from foreign suppliers, Mexico has asked the US to help. In March, Washington sent 2.7m AstraZeneca doses south.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/01/mexico-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-us-aid

So I'm not sure what the "restrictions" are.

[TexasBushwhacker]

6. Canada as well

Canada and Mexico have already given approval to the Astrazeneca vaccine but the US has not, although we had already purchased several million doses. So rather than letting them sit around refrigerated but unusable in the US, we gave them to Mexico and Canada.

[speak easy]

5. Pot and Kettle

EU moves toward stricter export controls for COVID-19 shots
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/24/eu-announces-tougher-controls-on-coronavirus-vaccine-exports.html

[BobTheSubgenius]

7. EXACTLY where I was going with my response.

Perhaps he ought to be appealing to his EU compatriots, if he hasn't already. And, the date on the article in your post says that this is at least the second time they tightened their export controls.

[Galraedia]

8. That was already the plan, so Macron is just trying to take credit.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

9. We proposed waving patent protections.

Might want to take that up with Germany. Besides, I am sure we will do our part. We have a new boss, with heart.