U.S.-based company 3M said Friday that it has been asked by the Trump administration not to supply N95 respirators to Canada amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the Minnesota-based company to produce and sell as many medical-grade masks as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it needs. He invoked the Defence Production Act in order to speed up the distribution of masks.
“The administration also requested that 3M cease exporting respirators that we currently manufacture in the United States to the Canadian and Latin American markets,” a statement from the company read.
The company said the move raised “humanitarian” concerns.
“There are, however, significant humanitarian implications of ceasing respirator supplies to health-care workers in Canada and Latin America, where we are a critical supplier of respirators,” the statement added.
Judge rules federal agents must limit tear gas at protests near Portland ICE building
Trump admin sued by New York, New Jersey over Hudson River tunnel funding freeze: ‘See you in court’
Girl, 12, dangles from ski chairlift in California before crashing to ground in terrifying video
White House approves Medal of Honor for fallen Army Staff Sgt Michael Ollis after years-long push
Lawmakers probe National FFA over Chinese Communist Party ties and DEI programs
Mamdani calls on DA to not prosecute mentally ill man shot by police during knife attack
Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Tim Burchett Drop SAVE Act Demands After Meeting with Trump
Trump reacts to NBC host Savannah Guthrie’s mother Nancy’s mysterious abduction
Op-Ed: Trump is a Performer – Let Him Perform
California business group unveils Times Square billboard comparing Newsom to NY Jets during Super Bowl week
Trump shames CNN’s Kaitlan Collins for not smiling when asking president about Epstein survivors
Mike Johnson backs ‘America Is Back!’ message as Trump debuts new hat design
These are the 21 House Republicans who held out against Trump, Johnson on $1.2T spending bill
Mitch McConnell hospitalized after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend
Jill Biden’s Ex-Husband Charged with Murder
The statement also warned that limiting supply to other countries could lead to them “retaliating” with similar measures.
“If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease. That is the opposite of what we and the administration, on behalf of the American people, both seek,” the company said.
On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the news, saying the government is in close contact with U.S. officials on the issue.
“We are discussing very closely with the United States the importance of keeping the flow of essential goods and services across our border to help both countries,” Trudeau said. “I am confident that the close and deep relationship between Canada and the U.S. will hold strong and we will not have to see interruptions in supply chain in either directions.”
Judge rules federal agents must limit tear gas at protests near Portland ICE building
Trump admin sued by New York, New Jersey over Hudson River tunnel funding freeze: ‘See you in court’
Girl, 12, dangles from ski chairlift in California before crashing to ground in terrifying video
White House approves Medal of Honor for fallen Army Staff Sgt Michael Ollis after years-long push
Lawmakers probe National FFA over Chinese Communist Party ties and DEI programs
Mamdani calls on DA to not prosecute mentally ill man shot by police during knife attack
Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Tim Burchett Drop SAVE Act Demands After Meeting with Trump
Trump reacts to NBC host Savannah Guthrie’s mother Nancy’s mysterious abduction
Op-Ed: Trump is a Performer – Let Him Perform
California business group unveils Times Square billboard comparing Newsom to NY Jets during Super Bowl week
Trump shames CNN’s Kaitlan Collins for not smiling when asking president about Epstein survivors
Mike Johnson backs ‘America Is Back!’ message as Trump debuts new hat design
These are the 21 House Republicans who held out against Trump, Johnson on $1.2T spending bill
Mitch McConnell hospitalized after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend
Jill Biden’s Ex-Husband Charged with Murder
Trudeau said he hopes to avoid a scenario where Canada is forced to retaliate against U.S. measures.
“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 added.
Demand for personal protective equipment — gloves, gowns, face shields and the all-important N95 masks — has been soaring around the world as overtaxed doctors, nurses and hospitals struggle to manage the spike in coronavirus cases while protecting themselves from infection.
On Thursday, 3M was singled out for criticism by Trump.
“We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks,” Trump tweeted. “‘P Act’ all the way. Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doing – will have a big price to pay!”
We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks. “P Act” all the way. Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doing – will have a big price to pay!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 3, 2020
3M CEO Mike Roman said earlier this week that the company is working closely with FEMA and is on track to double global production of N95 masks to two billion a year in 12 months.
