Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has warned Donald Trump that his decision to stop a US manufacturing company from sending respirators to Canada could prompt retaliatory measures.
The Trump administration ordered 3M, a Minnesota-based manufacturer of protective healthcare equipment, to stop exporting protective masks to Canada and Latin America on Thursday.
Mr Trudeau said medical equipment “goes both ways across the border,” and noted that thousands of nurses travel from Canada to work in Detroit every day.
“These are things that Americans rely on and it would be a mistake to create blockages or reduce the amount of back and forth trade of essential goods and services, including medical goods, across our border,” he said.
Mr Trump said Wednesday that he used the Defence Production Act, a Korean War-era law, to compel 3M to sell its equipment to the US government.
California’s Proposition 50 passes, delivering major political win for Newsom
James Solomon advances to run-off mayoral race in New Jersey’s second-largest city
Trump nominates Jared Isaacman as NASA chief months after withdrawal
Jones narrowly defeats Miyares in Virginia attorney general race despite violent text messages
Democrats keep Pennsylvania Supreme Court control after 3 justices win retention races
Dramatic video shows ‘catastrophic’ UPS plane disaster that left at least 3 dead, 11 injured
Breaking: Muslim Socialist Zohran Mamdani Elected Mayor of New York City
Federal charges filed against California man who allegedly drove U-Haul toward Coast Guard officers
Virginians Elect Jay Jones for AG After He Fantasized About Murdering Republicans and Their Children
Iran hackers taunted ‘Mr. Mustache’ John Bolton about stolen files that were allegedly classified
Watch: Karoline Leavitt Hits Back at Mamdani After He Pins Election Day Bomb Threats on Trump
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to where we stand with a potential break in the government shutdown
Trump Promises Criminal Investigation Into California Redistricting Vote: ‘GIANT SCAM’
Verizon to change its policies after Arctic Frost spying revelations
Schumer performs final Mamdani sidestep ahead of NYC polls closing
“We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks. ‘P Act’ all the way,” Mr Trump wrote on Twitter. “Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doing — will have a big price to pay!” he added.
Hospitals across the world are facing severe shortages of protective equipment, which puts medical staff at greater risk as they treat coronavirus patients. In the US, many doctors and nurses are re-using their masks every day.
3M said it had been asked by the White House to limit exports of protective equipment manufactured in the US to Canada and Latin America, which the company opposed on “humanitarian grounds.”
The company said in a statement that there were “significant humanitarian implications of ceasing respirator supplies to healthcare workers in Canada and Latin America, where we are a critical supplier of respirators. In addition, ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done.”
Story cited here.
