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.
Massive trove of Republican voter and donor info breached in Biden DOJ probe: Senate chairman
Iowa Dem Senate candidate says he’s too busy campaigning to attend all state House votes
Missing Summer Wells’ father arrested on domestic assault charge in Tennessee
Mystery woman sought after American found dead in Costa Rican tourist destination
Watch: Kathy Hochul Stumbles in Debate Opening Statement and Republican Opponent Bruce Blakeman Pounces
The Houthis Are Receiving Help Directly from China as They Attempt to Build Their Own Game-Changing Weapon: Report
Trump says ‘we are looking into’ other Dan Sullivan on Alaska ballot, warns about governor’s race
New York governor debate heats up as Blakeman, Hochul spar over Trump, sanctuary status, ICE shooting
Does anyone want to win this race? Talarico and Paxton stumble to finish line in Texas Senate contest
‘Tsunami of Republican Money’ Could Turn Midterms Upside Down, Says Top Democrat
NY Dem Congressional Candidate Wants Cornell 7’s ‘Severed Heads on Pikes,’ Ignores That There’s Been No Trial
99,000 arrested at Mexican border in Trump’s first year versus two million in Biden’s year one
Schumer warns of Republican advantage that could change the battle for Senate control
Democrats have ‘dirty hands’ over complaints about Omar raid weeks before election, ex-prosecutor says
Trump announces massive oil, gas and mineral exploration plans in Greenland, touts national security benefits
“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.
