US 'wants 3M to end mask exports to Canada and Latin America' [View all]

[Ohiogal]

Trump’s “good neighbor” policy ....

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A major US mask manufacturer, 3M, says the government has asked it to stop exporting US-made N95 respirator masks to Canada and Latin America.

(snip)

In a statement on Friday, 3M said the government had invoked the act "to require 3M to prioritise orders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) for our N95 respirators", and had also requested that 3M import more respirators made in its overseas factories into the US. It said it supported both moves.

However, 3M added that the government also requested that it stop exporting respirators made in the US to Canada and Latin America.

"There are significant humanitarian implications of ceasing respirator supplies to healthcare workers in Canada and Latin America, where we are a critical supplier of respirators," it said.

(snip)

Canada does not manufacture any N95 masks domestically, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Friday that "it would be a mistake to create blockages or reduce trade".

"There are thousands of nurses in Windsor who work in Detroit every single day, and Americans depend on them. There are medical products and other essential goods that move across the border in both directions... these are things Americans rely on."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52161032