Trump invokes defence powers to order GM to produce ventilators

PRESIDENT Donald Trump issued a federal order Friday to force auto giant General Motors to manufacture ventilators, as supplies of the crucial hospital equipment grow short and coronavirus infections mount across the country.

Trump invoked the rarelyused Defense Production Act (DPA) to order GM to speed up its commitment to make ventilators in one of its auto plants after delays in negotiations.

The act, designed for use in wartime to commandeer private business to manufacture for defense needs, will allow the White House to require that GM “accept, perform, and prioritize federal contracts for ventilators,” Trump said in a statement. Negotiations had been “productive,” he said, “but our fight against the virus is too urgent to allow the giveand-take of the contracting process to continue to run its normal course.”

“GM was wasting time. Today’s action will help ensure the quick production of ventilators

Trump invoked the rarelyused Defense Production Act (DPA) to order GM to speed up its commitment to make ventilators in one of its auto plants after delays in negotiations

that will save American lives.”

At a later White House press conference he added that the decision “should demonstrate clearly that we will not hesitate to use the full authority of the federal government to combat this crisis.”

He also announced that Peter Navarro, a top White House advisor formerly at the forefront of Washington’s trade dispute with China, will now coordinate further initiatives under the DPA.

- Tweet pressure -Earlier in the day Trump demanded in a tweet that both GM and rival Ford move quickly on fabricating ventilators, essential to help seriously ill coronavirus patients breathe.

GM quickly answered back that it had a deal with medical equipment maker Ventec Life Systems to build the critical care equipment in its Kokomo, Indiana, auto plant, and would likely be able to begin shipping next month.

But the White House was apparently dissatisfied with the company’s response and moved to invoke the DPA about four hours later. GM said in a statement after Trump’s announcement that they were already taking action.

“Ventec, GM and our supply base have been working around the clock for over a week to meet this urgent need,” the company said.