Berlin official denounces diversion of 200,000 masks, accuses U.S. of ‘wild west’ tactics
BERLIN — A delivery of 200,000 face masks ordered and paid for by the Berlin police was “confiscated” en route, a city official said Friday, citing U.S. legislation as the likely reason for the diversion by an American company.
The consignment of FFP-2 masks from China made it only as far as Bangkok, Andreas Geisel, Berlin’s senator for the interior, said in a statement.
“We consider this an act of modern piracy,” he said. “This is not how you deal with transatlantic partners. Even in times of global crisis, wild west methods shouldn’t rule.”
Geisel called on the German government “to urge the United States to comply with international rules.”
He added: “We are currently assuming that this is related to the U.S. government’s ban on mask exports.”
The statement did not name the company involved, saying only that it was a U.S. firm, but German press reports said the consignment was ordered from 3M. Company spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Trump administration this week invoked the Defense Production Act to force companies such as 3M to prioritize consignments to the United States.
By Loveday Morris and Luisa Beck