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.
Fact Check: No, the Comey Prosecutor Did Not Mislead Grand Jurors, Regardless of What the Biden-Appointed Judge Says
Even CNN Can’t Believe Jasmine Crockett’s Absurd Excuse for False Epstein Accusation Against Trump Official
Climate deadlines collide with politics as Dem-led states chase Big Oil in court but spare local refiners
Dem lawmaker sets litmus test for party with 5th Trump impeachment effort
Touchdown: Trump’s New Jersey Generals jacket auctioned for $18,658
Decamillionaires in Congress make taxpayers pay for their lodging and lunches
House members react to indictment of Florida Democrat: ‘Most egregious abuses of public trust’
Shapiro responds to illegal immigrant trucker fiasco – says driver was in fed database first
Trump labels 6 Democrats who told troops to refuse unlawful orders ‘traitors’ who should be arrested
Another One: Man Accused of Setting Woman on Fire on Chicago Train Has 49 Previous Arrests, 10 Felonies
Shock Video: Adult Inexplicably Orders Child, 9, to Move Car – Neighbor’s Cam Caught Chaos That Followed
Biden’s Legacy: Illegal Driving 18-Wheeler Allegedly Killed National Guardsman, 23, in Another Needless Wreck
Holiday crime fears grow as ‘jugging’ thieves target shoppers carrying cash and gifts: ‘Only a matter of time’
It Was an Invasion – Huge Swaths of Students Missing From Classrooms as ICE Begins Enforcing Law in Charlotte, NC
Republicans facing ‘worst-case scenario’ in redistricting war as midterm elections near
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.”
Fact Check: No, the Comey Prosecutor Did Not Mislead Grand Jurors, Regardless of What the Biden-Appointed Judge Says
Even CNN Can’t Believe Jasmine Crockett’s Absurd Excuse for False Epstein Accusation Against Trump Official
Climate deadlines collide with politics as Dem-led states chase Big Oil in court but spare local refiners
Dem lawmaker sets litmus test for party with 5th Trump impeachment effort
Touchdown: Trump’s New Jersey Generals jacket auctioned for $18,658
Decamillionaires in Congress make taxpayers pay for their lodging and lunches
House members react to indictment of Florida Democrat: ‘Most egregious abuses of public trust’
Shapiro responds to illegal immigrant trucker fiasco – says driver was in fed database first
Trump labels 6 Democrats who told troops to refuse unlawful orders ‘traitors’ who should be arrested
Another One: Man Accused of Setting Woman on Fire on Chicago Train Has 49 Previous Arrests, 10 Felonies
Shock Video: Adult Inexplicably Orders Child, 9, to Move Car – Neighbor’s Cam Caught Chaos That Followed
Biden’s Legacy: Illegal Driving 18-Wheeler Allegedly Killed National Guardsman, 23, in Another Needless Wreck
Holiday crime fears grow as ‘jugging’ thieves target shoppers carrying cash and gifts: ‘Only a matter of time’
It Was an Invasion – Huge Swaths of Students Missing From Classrooms as ICE Begins Enforcing Law in Charlotte, NC
Republicans facing ‘worst-case scenario’ in redistricting war as midterm elections near
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.
