Trump tells 3M to stop sending masks to Canada

Trudeau says the U.S. relies on Canada for healthcare workers and supplies

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump told 3M, to stop exporting medical-grade face masks to the Canadian and Latin American markets.

The Trump administration has asked the world’s largest U.S.-based makers of consumer products to stop sending N95 respirators to Canada and Latin America. The exported masks are going to frontline medical workers.

But 3M says, they are a critical supplier of masks and respirators to both markets, and that stopping shipments will have “significant humanitarian implications.” and would likely prompt retaliatory measures.

“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,” 3M said.

Prime Minister Trudeau backed this up with reporters outside Rideau Cottage today, saying that Canada is continuing to work closely with the Americans to make them understand. The two countries are exchanging goods and personnel. A very composed Trudeau said limiting the access of any product to either country “would be a mistake.”

The Prime Minister specifically pointed out that Canada is supplying thousands of healthcare professionals particularly to the Detroit area.

3M says it has already been producing as many of the N95 masks as possible for the U.S. market and 3M said they have now secured China’s approval to export to the U.S. 10 million 3M N-95 respirators manufactured by the company in China.

Meanwhile, today PM Trudeau says Canada has signed a deal with Amazon Canada to distribute medical supplies around the country.

story by Terry Lankstead