India announced yesterday a partial lifting of a fresh export ban on a malaria drug seen as a potential coronavirus treatment, after US President Donald Trump hinted at “retaliation”.
Citing domestic needs, India banned on Saturday exports of hydroxychloroquine which has shown early promise against Covid-19 in small-scale studies in France and China.
India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of the drug, according to media reports.
Global stocks are however limited and Trump said that he had pressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi this weekend to expedite shipments, hinting at consequences otherwise.
“If he doesn’t allow it to come out, he doesn’t allow it to come out, that would be okay, but of course, there may be retaliation, why wouldn’t there be?” Trump said on Monday.
The External Affairs Ministry swiftly backtracked and yesterday said it would now license the export of the drug and paracetamol - exports of which were restricted in March - “in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries who are dependent on our capabilities.”
“We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic,” ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said in a statement.
He added that they would be “kept in a licensed category and continuously monitored.”
Trump has strongly touted hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment although many scientists are urging caution until larger trials show whether it is safe and effective.
Hydroxychloroquine and another drug, chloroquine, have been used for decades against malaria but they have potentially serious side effects, especially in high doses or administered with other medications.
The European Medicine Agency warned last week that the two drugs should not be used to treat Covid-19 cases, except for clinical trials or in the event of a “national emergency”.
The Times of India reported that New Delhi had also come under pressure from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and from other countries including Britain, France, Germany and Brazil over pharma exports.
Opposition parties said the government must prioritise domestic needs.
“Friendship isn’t about retaliation. India must help all nations in their hour of need but lifesaving medicines should be made available to Indians in ample quantities first,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter.
Other party leaders including Shashi Tharoor and Jaiveer Shergill slammed Trump’s alleged threat.
“Never in my decades of experience in world affairs have I heard of a Head of State or government openly threatening another like this,” Tharoor tweeted.
“What makes Indian hydroxychloroquine ‘our supply’, Mr President? It only becomes your supply when India decides to sell it to you,” said Tharoor.
Shergill said: “President Trump’s remarks that ‘India has been taking advantage of US trade for years’ and ‘there may be retaliation if India does not supply hydroxychloroquine’ proves that US views relationship with India as transactional and neither “HowdyModi” nor “Namaste Trump” make us all-weather friends.”
Foreign ministry spokesman Srivastava denied the partial ban was lifted because of Trump’s threat.
These were “attempts by section of the media to create unnecessary controversy,” he said.
“Like any responsible government, our first obligation is to ensure that there are adequate stocks of medicine for the requirement of our own people,” he said adding the restrictions had been largely lifted after availability of medicines for all possible contingencies had been confirmed.
A man rides a three-wheeler cart loaded with gas cylinders as he crosses a road covered with paintings about precautions to follow during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown, in Kolkata yesterday.
