Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lifted restrictions on the export of millions of anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine pills following pressure from President Trump.
India banned the export of hydroxychloroquine, which Trump has touted as a potential treatment for the coronavirus, over the weekend due to fears the country might face a shortage. Trump responded to the news by saying the country could face “retaliation.”
“For many years, they’ve been taking advantage of the United States on trade. So I would be surprised if that were his [Modi’s] decision. He’d have to tell me that. I spoke to him Sunday morning, called him, and I said, ‘We’d appreciate you allowing our supply to come out.’ If he doesn’t allow it to come out, that would be OK. But of course, there may be retaliation. Why wouldn’t there be?” he said during a press conference Tuesday.
Indian officials said hours later that the country has enough of the drug stocked and lifted restrictions on exports of it, according to Forbes.
“It has been decided that India would licence paracetamol and HCQ in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries who are dependent on our capabilities,” the spokesman for India’s foreign ministry, Anurag Srivastava, said. “We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic.”
India manufactures and supplies more than a quarter of the world’s generic drugs, according to CBS. In addition to the anti-malarial drug, restrictions on 24 other medications and ingredients were also lifted.
