President Trump’s praise comes after he confirmed that the first shipment of a total of 29 million doses of the hydroxychloroquine was shipped from the three factories of Gujarat.
Washington| Hours after he threatened India of ‘retaliation’ due to its ban on the export of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug said to be vital in Covid-19 treatment, US President Donald Trump praised India for lifting the ban and allowing the supply of the drug to the United States. US President Trump also called Prime Minister Modi “great” and “really good”.
President Trump’s praise comes after he confirmed that the first shipment of a total of 29 million doses of the hydroxychloroquine was shipped from the three factories of Gujarat.
“I bought millions of doses… more than 29 million. I spoke to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, a lot of it comes out of India. I asked him if he would release it. He was great. He was really good,” the US President said in an interview to news channel Fox News.
On Monday, Trump had said in a press briefing that “it would be surprising” if Narendra Modi doesn’t lift the ban on the export of the drug. He had also said that “there may be retaliation” if India chooses not to lift the ban.
“I didn’t hear it was his decision. I know that he stopped it for other countries (but) I spoke to him yesterday and we had a very good talk… I said we’d appreciate you allowing our supply to come out. If he doesn’t allow it to come… there may be retaliation,” Trump said while talking about his phone call to Narendra Modi on Sunday.
The United States has reported four lakh cases and 13,000 death so far due to the infection of coronavirus.
India had banned the export of hydroxychloroquine with some other pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines in the light of disruption in the global supply chain and possible requirements of the drugs in the country amid coronavirus crisis.
After Trump’s ‘retaliation’ remarks, India lifted the ban on the export of 24 pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines and said it would allow the supply of drugs to “badly affected” countries.
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