US firm denies masks for Germany seized in Bangkok

[webfact]

US firm denies masks for Germany seized in Bangkok

 

Image Credit: Bloomberg

 

WASHINGTON (Agencies) – US firm 3M has denied allegations that thousands of its face masks destined for Germany were seized while in transit in Bangkok and diverted by US authorities on April 3.

 

3M told Germany’s dpa news agency that it had no reports of masks being seized, nor any paperwork on such a shipment destined for Berlin.

 

A German official has accused the US of “modern piracy” after a shipment of medical masks intended for German police were reportedly diverted to the states, a sign of how hot the international market for protective equipment has become. About 200,000 N95 masks were “confiscated” in Bangkok as they were being transferred between planes in Thailand, Berlin authorities told the BBC.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/us-firm-denies-masks-for-germany-seized-in-bangkok/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-04-06

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[Thian]

This should be investigated asap....

[Bluespunk]

If true, then this is a contemptible action and one the world should not forget when times improve.
 

If, it’s true that is.  

[Cryingdick]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2020/04/03/3m-blasts-back-at-trump-company-says-not-selling-masks-to-canada-could-spark-retaliation/#4e14161c7465

 

Private companies not looking for government funds should be allowed to do whatever is permissible under the law.

Edited April 6, 2020 by Cryingdick

[Logosone]

Why the dishonesty by the Americans?

 

The same happened to France. Laws mandating 3M can't sell to Canada or Latin America?

 

All coincidence? A mask hungry band of completely private businessmen just happened to be roaming the planet at the same time paying over-market prices for masks for the US? What a major coincidence.

 

Of course admitting to the world "we're selfish, self-centred sobs who care nothing about you' could be ill-received by the world.

 

Hence the deception of pretending it was "private businessmen". Of course 3M would deny it, it's terrible for their reputation after all.

 

Edited April 6, 2020 by Logosone

[Cryingdick]

2 minutes ago, Logosone said:

Why the dishonesty by the Americans?

 

The same happened to France. Laws mandating 3M can't sell to Canada or Latin America?

 

All coincidence? A mask hungry band of completely private businessmen just happened to be roaming the planet at the same time paying over-market prices for masks for the US? What a major coincidence.

 

Of course admitting to the world "we're selfish, self-centred sobs who care nothing about you' could be ill-received by the world.

 

Hence the deception of pretending it was "private businessmen". Of course 3M would deny it, it's terrible for their reputation after all.

 

Didn't we want open borders and "free" healthcare for every man, woman, child and fetus, just 6 months ago? I could have swore they said we can cure and feed every man on earth and even offer abortions to the trans community. (Castro)

 

Things have changed?

[Cryingdick]

The CEO of 3M (a Minnesota company where I am from) said they won't play God. 

[BTB1977]

Is thaivisa going to print a retraction that they reported fake news earlier when they reported this really happening.  I think not.  55555

[Logosone]

38 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

The CEO of 3M (a Minnesota company where I am from) said they won't play God. 

But they have to abide by the law, right, they can not sell to Canada or Latin America?

 

Or will they go Schindler?

[Logosone]

10 minutes ago, BTB1977 said:

Is thaivisa going to print a retraction that they reported fake news earlier when they reported this really happening.  I think not.  55555

Oh it happened.

 

Just because 3M claiming it did not happen, does not mean it doesn't.

 

German ministers don't go on record unless it happened.

[Cryingdick]

1 minute ago, Logosone said:

But they have to abide by the law, right, they can not sell to Canada or Latin America?

 

Or will they go Schindler?

 

I am sure they will follow the law. However it's time for the government to come up with all this money they keep babbling about. Everybody needs masks.

Edited April 6, 2020 by Cryingdick

[Chomper Higgot]

24 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

I am sure they will follow the law. However it's time for the government to come up with all this money they keep babbling about. Everybody needs masks.

I wouldn't put to much faith in businesses following the law. 

 

[KhunBENQ]

Order masks in China and pick them up yourself, no middlemen, no "logistic partner".

Airbus supplied a company own A350-1000 that landed in Hamburg Saturday with 4 million masks from Tianjin.

Unloaded under military protection.

Next one was picked up with the Beluga, 6 million masks.

Part of the supply will go to Italy and Spain.

(other sources say France and UK too?)

Edited April 6, 2020 by KhunBENQ

[a340bangla1]

Well, the German press was reporting yesterday that the rerouting to the US in Bangkok was done by the German trading company with which the government of Berlin (city) had placed the order. Link in German https://www.n-tv.de/panorama/USA-haben-Schutzmasken-doch-nicht-abgefangen-article21693615.html

 

It seems neither 3M nor the tRump White House had anything to do with this.

But some member of the SPD has egg on his face.

[grumbleweed]

2 hours ago, Logosone said:

Why the dishonesty by the Americans?

Oxymoron?

 

[Logosone]

Why would a businessman who has made a deal with a German government client process the order, have 200,000 masks transported to Bangkok, then suddenly have a change of heart and sell them to an American buyer  instead?

 

The article says that the businessman stated that US government gave a directive that the products were to be flown to the US, which the they were.

 

But the article doesn't clear up what actually happened.

 

Obviously the middleman interfered in a done deal, where products were already in the process of being delivered, the deal was done.

 

To then effectively "re-sell" the goods is highly unusual and would most likely only happen with the involvement of the US government.

 

Even if they of course deny it. And N-TV seems to take the 3M and White house denial at face value.

 

Very naive.

[Colabamumbai]

We will close Gander Airport to Americans in the next crisis. 

[Proboscis]

3 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2020/04/03/3m-blasts-back-at-trump-company-says-not-selling-masks-to-canada-could-spark-retaliation/#4e14161c7465

 

Private companies not looking for government funds should be allowed to do whatever is permissible under the law.

But if someone has ordered something at an agreed price, then a third party butting in means that there has been a breach of contract between the supplier and the party ordering the product at the agreed price. There should be a legal remedy against 3M unless of course if the Americans stole the product - then the personnel should be arrest for theft in Thailand.

[DoctorG]

3 million masks ordered by Massachusetts were seized at Port of NY in March

https://www.wcvb.com/article/3-million-masks-ordered-by-massachusetts-were-confiscated-in-port-of-new-york/32021700#

[Lee4Life]

3 hours ago, Logosone said:

Why the dishonesty by the Americans?

 

The same happened to France. Laws mandating 3M can't sell to Canada or Latin America?

 

All coincidence? A mask hungry band of completely private businessmen just happened to be roaming the planet at the same time paying over-market prices for masks for the US? What a major coincidence.

 

Of course admitting to the world "we're selfish, self-centred sobs who care nothing about you' could be ill-received by the world.

 

Hence the deception of pretending it was "private businessmen". Of course 3M would deny it, it's terrible for their reputation after all.

 

Guilty until proven innocent, huh? Why would it be bad for 3M's reputation? they didn't do anything wrong.

[candide]

2 hours ago, a340bangla1 said:

Well, the German press was reporting yesterday that the rerouting to the US in Bangkok was done by the German trading company with which the government of Berlin (city) had placed the order. Link in German https://www.n-tv.de/panorama/USA-haben-Schutzmasken-doch-nicht-abgefangen-article21693615.html

 

It seems neither 3M nor the tRump White House had anything to do with this.

But some member of the SPD has egg on his face.

Interesting. However, as far as my knowledge of German allows me to understand, it seems the article only explores alternative explanations and doesn't draw a clear conclusion. And has a title with a question mark at the end.

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours ago, a340bangla1 said:

But some member of the SPD has egg on his face.

Indeed the whole story was quite a farce.

And this senator (local politician) is a farce anyway.

[KhunBENQ]

1 minute ago, candide said:

the article only explores alternative explanations and doesn't draw a clear conclusion

Yes, but a direct intervention of US government agencies has not taken place.

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, Logosone said:

Oh it happened.

 

Just because 3M claiming it did not happen, does not mean it doesn't.

 

German ministers don't go on record unless it happened.

 

So you believe you can trust German politicians. 

 

Sure, if you say so. Politicians don't lie do they?

[Baerboxer]

7 minutes ago, candide said:

Interesting. However, as far as my knowledge of German allows me to understand, it seems the article only explores alternative explanations and doesn't draw a clear conclusion. And has a title with a question mark at the end.

 

Conspiracy theories - only believed if it is against someone/something that you find distasteful or disagree with. Then any comment must be right, even if proved incorrect. Because after all, you don't like them.

 

That's how fake news and conspiracy work. Goebbels would've loved the "information age"!

[Logosone]

30 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Yes, but a direct intervention of US government agencies has not taken place.

Well, hang on a minute.

 

Do you seriously believe all across the world American businessmen were privately buying up all face masks out of a sense of patriotic duty? This happened to France as well. Just at about the same time that Mr Trump, coincidentally, issues a directive that 3M is not to sell its products to foreign countries like Canada and those in Latin America?

 

This is all a mighty coincidence, I have to say.

 

But hey, of course if the White house deny it, and if 3M deny it, it can't possibly be true.

 

Maybe it was David Copperfielfd who just happened to be in Bangkok and made the masks disappear. 3M said so.

[Logosone]

30 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

So you believe you can trust German politicians. 

 

Sure, if you say so. Politicians don't lie do they?

Sorry, but this was across the board, not just Berlin's Interior Minister, also the German health minister confirmed those masks were sent to the USA, after they were paid for.

 

It happened.

[Logosone]

43 minutes ago, Lee4Life said:

Guilty until proven innocent, huh? Why would it be bad for 3M's reputation? they didn't do anything wrong.

It would damage 3Ms reputation if they admitted they do not deliver goods that were paid for.

 

It stands to reason they would deny such an immoral, faithless and craven act.

[natway09]

Even the "President" does not think that they are necessary anyway

[rasmus5150]

45 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

So you believe you can trust German politicians. 

 

Sure, if you say so. Politicians don't lie do they?

If i had to choose between a German and US politician regarding trust and honesty, the answer would be really simple.......