The Trump administration will not deliver medical protective equipment to allies to prioritize domestic demand against Covid-19.

A U.S. congressional source said on Wednesday it was informed last week that the White House anti-Covid-19 task force led by Vice President Mike Pence had stopped shipping shipments of medical equipment to the country. out. Instead, the group requests that these medical supplies be distributed only within the country.

When asked about this information, President Donald Trump said that "it was not right". However, a few minutes later he said "whatever we have, whatever we have committed, we still commit", but added that "we also need many things".

"Obviously we will not deliver too much," Trump said at a White House press conference yesterday.

The move came as the United States asked countries around the world to donate or sell medical supplies, from disinfectant solutions to ventilators, to help Washington deal with the pandemic. The US Department of State has listed 25 items for diplomats to ask their host countries for supply.

South Korea last week said Trump had asked President Moon Jae-in to support medical equipment. A Russian plane carrying medical supplies also landed in New York on April 1, days after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) earlier this week addressed "emergency requests" to personal protective equipment and medical supplies, including test kits, masks and respirators, "available for use" stuff.

The State Department and USAID recently promoted the generosity of the United States in the context of Covid-19 raging around the globe. "In early February, we transferred nearly 18 tons of medical supplies to Wuhan," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. "America we aid nations because we are generous and noble."

Last week, the State Department announced a US $ 274 million humanitarian and medical assistance package to deal with the pandemic. However, a senior State Department official acknowledged that the support package did not include personal protective equipment. A Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that "in general, we must ensure critical medical supplies and essential medical supplies are prioritized for domestic needs."