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.
Two 14-year-olds flee MTA officers, remain missing after vanishing from New Jersey train station
Judge rules Dan Sullivan can appear on Alaska primary ballot against Sen. Dan Sullivan
Jeffries welcomes Democratic Socialists into the fold as critics warn party is revealing ‘exactly who it is’
Polygamous sect leader convicted of abuse charges after girls found in trailer on Arizona highway
Hezbollah rejects Israel and Lebanon’s peace framework: ‘Null and void’
Trump unloads on ‘lunatic’ John Bolton after ex-aide pleads guilty in classified docs case
Man who set Virginia council member on fire over alleged affair gets 40-year sentence
Carville calls for formal ‘schism’ with socialist candidates: ‘Can’t be in the same party’
Bill Maher presses Vance over Trump’s election fraud claims: ‘That s*** has to stop’
Former House intel leader points to Dem rhetoric ‘encouraging’ violence as 8th man charged in UFC terror plot
Hollywood Libs Pour Love on Beijing, Tout China as ‘First Petro-Zero Economy,’ But Facts Show Different Story
Global Elitism at Work: Amid Heatwave, European Commission Shuts Off AC – But Only For Lower-Level Workers
Bill Barr says Todd Blanche isn’t ‘a toady,’ urges senate to confirm Trump’s AG pick
Kentucky man charged with boating under the influence after female passenger, 19, goes missing
US search and rescue teams deploy to help Venezuela earthquake response
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.”
Two 14-year-olds flee MTA officers, remain missing after vanishing from New Jersey train station
Judge rules Dan Sullivan can appear on Alaska primary ballot against Sen. Dan Sullivan
Jeffries welcomes Democratic Socialists into the fold as critics warn party is revealing ‘exactly who it is’
Polygamous sect leader convicted of abuse charges after girls found in trailer on Arizona highway
Hezbollah rejects Israel and Lebanon’s peace framework: ‘Null and void’
Trump unloads on ‘lunatic’ John Bolton after ex-aide pleads guilty in classified docs case
Man who set Virginia council member on fire over alleged affair gets 40-year sentence
Carville calls for formal ‘schism’ with socialist candidates: ‘Can’t be in the same party’
Bill Maher presses Vance over Trump’s election fraud claims: ‘That s*** has to stop’
Former House intel leader points to Dem rhetoric ‘encouraging’ violence as 8th man charged in UFC terror plot
Hollywood Libs Pour Love on Beijing, Tout China as ‘First Petro-Zero Economy,’ But Facts Show Different Story
Global Elitism at Work: Amid Heatwave, European Commission Shuts Off AC – But Only For Lower-Level Workers
Bill Barr says Todd Blanche isn’t ‘a toady,’ urges senate to confirm Trump’s AG pick
Kentucky man charged with boating under the influence after female passenger, 19, goes missing
US search and rescue teams deploy to help Venezuela earthquake response
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.
