The flood of medical supplies in U.S. ports

Here's the latest news: U.K. secures up to 60 million doses from Glaxo and Sanofi Virus-hit U.S. GDP report likely to be ugliest ever recorded Bats have been carrying coronavirus for decades, study shows The flood of medical supplies in U.S. ports While the volume of goods coming into U.S. ports has declined since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, inbound shipments of medical supplies are up. Way up. Imported goods fell 12% in the last six months, Thomas Overacker, executive director of cargo and conveyance security at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, testified on Tuesday before the Senate Finance Committee. But medical supply imports rose 227% in April, he said. Those supplies are coming from all over the world, particularly masks from China and gloves from Malaysia. CBP has cleared more than 400 flights from 17 countries to facilitate the delivery of 1.3 billion pieces of personal protective equipment, Overacker said. An EVA Airways jet delivering PPE from Taipei is one of hundreds that have brought supplies to the U.S. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg The agency has also been knee-deep in frauds. As of the end of June, CBP had seized more than 10 million counterfeit masks, 120,000 unlawful test kits, 24,000 prohibited hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine tablets and 4,000 unsafe antibiotics, Overacker said. Given all the countries involved and the risk for unsafe products evading CBP, senators on the Finance Committee, particularly Republicans, used the hearing to discuss ways to encourage medical-supply manufacturing in the U.S. rather than relying on China and others. "At this point, I think it's fair to say that China has serious quality control problems," Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said. The Trump administration, led by trade adviser Peter Navarro, has had trouble getting traction on a draft executive order that would require federal agencies to buy medical equipment and pharmaceuticals that are made in the U.S. But in a somewhat less showy fashion, the administration has been pumping hundreds of millions into contracts and loans to help companies produce more drugs and their key ingredients in the U.S. Senator Rob Portman said the same needs to be done for personal protective equipment. Is a carrot and not a stick the way forward? Soraya Correa, chief procurement officer for the Department of Homeland Security, thinks so. "They're going to be willing to invest as long as they know there is a long-term need," Correa said. "Industries will turn. Companies will form, and large companies will partner with small companies."—Anna Edney Track the economy  Where Expiring $600 Unemployment Checks Will Hurt Most Because any dollar amount is effectively more money in low-cost, low-wage cities, the subsidy has an outsized effect for workers in those locations and has essentially reduced inequality in one component of America's social safety net. Explore the data here.    Sponsored Content by Siemens America's factories, power plants, transportation and hospitals all need technology and our technology is only as powerful as the people deploying and maintaining it. Keeping America moving takes more than technology alone. It takes a human touch. Siemens Ingenuity for life.   What you should read U.S. Conservatives Push Brakes on Stimulus Critics include potential future GOP presidential candidates. Hong Kong Can't Lock Down in Worst Virus Wave Record cases seen nine out of 20 days, hospital isolation beds near limit. London Bets on Low Traffic for Virus Rebound The city plans to curb cars, boost biking and walking. Not everyone's a fan. Banana-Tree Masks Cut Covid Plastic Waste Fiber-based material could replace plastic in millions of masks and gowns.  The Pandemic Is Changing Work-Life Balance Perks offered to employees may stick after the virus recedes. Know someone else who would like this newsletter?  Have them sign up here. Have any questions, concerns, or news tips on Covid-19 news? Get in touch or help us cover the story. Like this newsletter? Subscribe for unlimited access to trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and gain expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters, The Bloomberg Open and The Bloomberg Close. Follow Us Get the newsletter You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Coronavirus Daily newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022