As follows from the document that RT got acquainted with, China, North Korea, Russia and Iran were included in the list of non-allied countries.
However, as specified in the bill, there are a number of exceptions.
Thus, concessions can be used in the event that personal protective equipment cannot be purchased from other states that are not included in the mentioned list, "in order to meet the requirements at a reasonable price."
In addition, the proposed ban may not apply to purchased products if they are intended to be used outside the United States, or if the total value of the goods does not exceed $ 150,000.
As specified in the text, the term “personal protective equipment” refers to items that prevent the spread of various diseases, for example, medical masks, various types of respirators, filters, face shields, antibacterial wipes and goggles.
Earlier, analysts at the Peterson Institute for World Economy reported that China has significantly increased its exports of personal protective equipment in 2020.
According to them, in 2019, Beijing exported medical PPE worth $ 22.9 billion, and in 2020 - already by $ 88.1 billion.
Exports of medical masks and respirators for 2020 are estimated at $ 53.8 billion ($ 5.4 billion in 2019), face shields at $ 16.8 billion ($ 13.3 billion in 2019), protective clothing at $ 10.8 billion ($ 0.9 billion), and gloves - $ 3.9 billion ($ 1.0 billion).
In particular, the export of Chinese PPE to the United States increased almost 3.5 times - from $ 7.1 billion to $ 24.6 billion.