Home President Trump 3M Pushes Back at Trump Over N95 Masks

3M Pushes Back at Trump Over N95 Masks

12
3M Pushes Back at Trump Over N95 Masks

The 3M Company has pushed backed against President Trump who admonished the firm for appearing to indicate that it would not comply with a White House order to stop exporting lifesaving N95 masks to Canada and Latin America.

Late last week the Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act, compelling 3M to prioritize orders for desperately needed N95 respiratory masks for the US government’s national stockpile.

The Minnesota-based company, one of the largest manufacturers of the masks, said it was looking forward to implementing the order and had already been going “above and beyond” in recent weeks to churn them out as quickly as possible amid the coronavirus pandemic.

But 3M criticized a previously unreported request from the White House that it also stop sending any N95 masks to Latin America and Canada, citing “significant humanitarian implications” given the great need for them in the US and complaints from governors around the country, including New York’s Andrew Cuomo, who said that they wind up in bidding wars for supplies against each other and other countries.

“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 released by the company on Friday read.

The controversial statement continued, “There are, however, significant humanitarian implications of ceasing respirator supplies to healthcare workers in Canada and Latin America, where we are a critical supplier of respirators.”

The manufacturing company said it feared other countries would retaliate if it stopped exporting masks made in the US, “as some have already done.”

“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.”

3Ms bombshell sparked a diplomatic scramble, with Ontario Premier Doug Ford telling US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, that the White House’s order would potentially jeopardize the health of Canada’s frontline workers.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the order a “mistake.”

“It would be a mistake for both of our countries to limit our access to goods and personnel,” Trudeau said Friday morning, saying Canada would “continue to keep trade open with the United States.”

The president and his top trade adviser, Peter Navarro, both lashed into the Minnesota-based company after the release of the statement, criticizing 3M for continuing to send respirators overseas when the US is facing a critical domestic shortage.

Navarro also expressed concern that supplies that 3M makes in many overseas manufacturing facilities, find their way back to the US where they are so desperately needed.

However, in the statement released by 3M, it said the company would, “ramp up overseas production and was exporting 10 million N95 respirators manufactured by its factory in China.”

12 COMMENTS

  1. 3M is obviously complicit with China in the lies just to make more $$ with the increased production needs.

  2. This mess created by the EPA with their over regulations of American made products and the extreme greed from manufacturers who once made their products in the US and also corrupt politicians in states like new york and california due to ever increasing taxes have created this mess! These groups of corrupt criminals have jeopardized the safety of our country and should be deported or fined and controlled. The liberal media, liberal politicians and the ignorant foreigners and liberal traitors who support them are the supporters of these agencies. Their ultimate goal is to destroy our country and turn it into a corrupt, bankrupt, welfare state controlled by the UN and the new world order. These scum need to be deported if we are to have the needed supplies that are made in America. We cannot continue to rely on corrupt companies like 3M or countries like china to supply our needs in the future.The supporters of these organizations do not belong in a Christian, civilized country.

  3. 3M can push back all it wants. Fact is this Minnesota company abandoned the American people in a time of crisis so they could sell masks to the highest bidder. Typical liberal democratic company. Even Amy Klobochar praised this disgusting enterprise during one of the democratic comedy hour debates. I hope we Americans will remember 3M’s betrayal during this time of national emergency and boycott their products when this thing is over. This is what Minnesota has come to: Amy Klobachar, Ilan Omar and other extreme radicals are the idols 3M worships. As for me, today I threw out my Scotch Gurard, Scotch tape and over a hundred Post It note pads. I will never knowingly allow any product made by 3M in my house and will actively encourage others to boycott 3M.

  4. 3M along with other AMERICAN COMPANIES need to put AMERICA FIRST. Make sure every US STATE has needed RESPIRATORS FIRST. The TRUMP Administration needs more AMERICAN COMPANIES to CO ME FORWARD.MAKE MEDICAL SUPPLIES or Donate $$$ for SUPPLIES. Contact the TRUMP Administration. YOU can also Donate $$$ to SAMARITANS PURSE…a CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION. I had PRAYED and CRIED OUT to GOD to have MERCY on the PEOPLE on HIS PLANET EARTH. MAKE the VIRUS GO AWAY. I had TEARS in my EYES. GOD told me… ” I have heard YOUR PRAYERS…I will be MERCIFUL. “GOD ANNOITED Me in 1990.He said to me…” You Have Found Favor in Mine EYES..for your MANY GOOD DEEDS…Continue YOUR gOOD DEEDS and LEAD OTHERS to ME. “. From SamuraiQueen aka CHIAKIA.

  5. 3M can, if they choose, ship directly from their factories to destinations identified by the Virus Team in DC. Yes, they have contracts with suppliers and those suppliers are undoubtedly flashing contracts and money in their face. If 3M doesn’t have the courage and where with all to deal with suppliers during the US crisis, Trump needs to nationalize 3M for the remainder of the emergency and ensure storage is replenished. Fish or cut bait, 3M.

  6. If 3M has a plant in China, use that facility to ship to Canada and S. America. China is prohibiting their own plants to ship PPE so let’s see if they forbid3M as well. But if American made, then sell only to US until all states are satisfied. This was a direct order because of the act congress passed, and the President is invoking his power to treat this war as a serious threat to our country. You cannot disobey or hold the CEO accountable for treason!

    • I agree that 3M needs to help the US first. However there has to be a way to get product to our allies. Cant there be a compromise? Fill the needs in the US and produce for others as well? As someone suggested, let 3M in China fill the orders for other countries.

  7. If 3M wants to supply other countries while the United States is hurting with shortages of life saving masks, hit them BIG TIME with TARIFFS that we charge other countries. If they won’t pay, find another distributor, then throw 3M out of the country.

Comments are closed.