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.
UK Is Lost: After Brutal Gang Rape, Cops Turn on Angry Citizens for Refusing to Be Politically Correct About Unthinkable Crime
BBQ lovers beware: Middle East conflict might disrupt your summer plans this year
Watch: Rep. Boebert Planning Motion to Expel Ilhan Omar from Congress Over Alleged Incestuous Marriage – ‘That One’s Mine… I Have Dibs’
Boston mayor denies funding LGBTQ migrant ‘wellness’ perks after program touts up to $500 benefits
White House goes hands-off in Virginia redistricting fight, despite pressure from Speaker Johnson
Dems sidestep past ‘refuse illegal orders’ demands as they challenge Trump’s Iran war authority
Iran could use detained Americans as ‘sweetener’ in nuclear talks, ex-hostage envoy warns
Air Force Academy’s ‘CULEX’ puts thousands of cadets through realistic 24-hour combat simulation
Trump set to read Scripture from the Oval Office during ‘America Reads the Bible’ event starting Sunday
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Dem teachers groom ‘foot soldiers,’ justice served to anti-Israel group
RFK Jr clashes with Dem lawmaker over Trump’s mental fitness in heated exchange
Gold Star father says prior Afghanistan review smelled ‘like a cover-up’ as new look examines millions of docs
Fact Check: Did Pete Hegseth Accidentally Quote a ‘Fake Bible Verse from Pulp Fiction’?
Skeletal remains found by hikers in Washington state woods identified as woman missing since 2024
Two boys dead after illegal immigrant from Mexico allegedly drove drunk and hit them on a sidewalk
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.”
UK Is Lost: After Brutal Gang Rape, Cops Turn on Angry Citizens for Refusing to Be Politically Correct About Unthinkable Crime
BBQ lovers beware: Middle East conflict might disrupt your summer plans this year
Watch: Rep. Boebert Planning Motion to Expel Ilhan Omar from Congress Over Alleged Incestuous Marriage – ‘That One’s Mine… I Have Dibs’
Boston mayor denies funding LGBTQ migrant ‘wellness’ perks after program touts up to $500 benefits
White House goes hands-off in Virginia redistricting fight, despite pressure from Speaker Johnson
Dems sidestep past ‘refuse illegal orders’ demands as they challenge Trump’s Iran war authority
Iran could use detained Americans as ‘sweetener’ in nuclear talks, ex-hostage envoy warns
Air Force Academy’s ‘CULEX’ puts thousands of cadets through realistic 24-hour combat simulation
Trump set to read Scripture from the Oval Office during ‘America Reads the Bible’ event starting Sunday
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Dem teachers groom ‘foot soldiers,’ justice served to anti-Israel group
RFK Jr clashes with Dem lawmaker over Trump’s mental fitness in heated exchange
Gold Star father says prior Afghanistan review smelled ‘like a cover-up’ as new look examines millions of docs
Fact Check: Did Pete Hegseth Accidentally Quote a ‘Fake Bible Verse from Pulp Fiction’?
Skeletal remains found by hikers in Washington state woods identified as woman missing since 2024
Two boys dead after illegal immigrant from Mexico allegedly drove drunk and hit them on a sidewalk
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.
