US blocks millions of N95 face masks headed for Canada

[Celerity]

US officials stop shipment at 3M factory after Trump invoked Defense Production Act to stop exports to Canada and beyond

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/06/us-blocks-face-masks-canada-n95-protection-equipment



US officials have stopped nearly three million specialized masks from being exported to Canada’s most populous province, amid mounting fears that Ontario will run out of supplies for medical staff battling coronavirus by the end of the week. Donald Trump on Friday invoked the 1950 Defense Production Act giving the government “any or all authority” to stop 3M exporting N95 respirators to Canada and Latin America. The masks, which filter out 95% of airborne particles, are seen as a critical tool for frontline healthcare workers in the fight against Covid-19.

But as supply shrinks, countries and local governments are locked in a desperate battle to access whatever equipment is available. At a press conference on Monday, Ontario premier Doug Ford said the 500,000 masks had been cleared for release, but nearly three million masks were intercepted by US officials at 3M’s South Dakota Facility. “We know that the US isn’t allowing supplies across the US border,” Ford said. “The hard truth is, our supplies in Ontario are getting very low and the more new cases we get, the more demand there is on our resources.”

3M initially resisted the president’s executive order, warning in a statement the move would have “significant humanitarian implications” for countries desperate for safety equipment. Over the weekend, Trump harshly criticised the company, warning it would have “a big price to pay”. “We need the masks. We don’t want other people getting it,” Trump said in a Saturday briefing to reporters. “That’s why we’re instituting [the] defence production act. You could call it retaliation because that’s what it is: it’s a retaliation. If people don’t give us what we need for our people, we’re going to be very tough.”

3M has not directly responded to the president’s remarks or say whether it intended to continue exports of protective equipment. But it issued a statement on Sunday saying it would “continue to maximize the amount of respirators we can produce for heroic healthcare workers in the US and worldwide”. As Ontario scrambles to source new equipment, Ford said the province is “desperately” counting on orders placed through the federal government’s bulk purchasing program to bridge its short-term needs until a sustainable supply can be found. The order from Trump has come as a blow to Canadians, many of whom prize the close relationship between the two countries.

snip

[SheltieLover]

1. WTF is he doing with all the PPE being seized by feds? Auctioning it?

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[Laffy Kat]

3. After all Canada has done for us?

I am so embarrassed and angry.

[SheltieLover]

4. YES! 🤬

Seriously, wtf is he doing with all tge PPE being seized? It's sure not going to NY!

A shipment going to Wyoming was seized by feds today!

Sending to Russia, perhaps? 🤬

[Bev54]

8. I am a Canadian

and the paper to make those masks come from a pulp mill on Vancouver Island. Our government is under tremendous stress by Canadians wanting him to stop sending it. Trudeau has said that he is trying to procure a manufacturer in Canada to make the masks and if we do, likely that paper will go to them instead. Trump is fucking up big time.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-vancouver-island-pulp-mill-supplies-materials-for-medical-protective/

[SheltieLover]

10. So sorry

For shitstain's behavior. 😢

He is confisgating shipments to individual states here, after telling givernors to find PPE on their own, so he is doing the same thing here, not to diminish the effects to your wonderful country.

[Bev54]

12. We do not hold the people of the US responsible

Well not all of them anyway. It is just that it will likely hurt your citizens more than ours, should he continue to do this. Trudeau is very diplomatic but people are getting pretty fed up with Trump. We would be there for the American people again, without question, if we need to be, but we cannot tolerate Trump's bullying. I know once you get rid of him, we can get back to better relations. We do have some people in our country too that are protectionists, and assholes. I have some in my family but they are a minority.

[SheltieLover]

13. TY

Glad to hear this. It's surreal living here at this point.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

9. The US has also intercepted materiel for other nations that have crossed the country.

Now they're acting little more than like the Somali pirates we condemed so loudly.

[msongs]

2. trump and co can't sell them at profiteer prices if canada gets em first nt

[SheltieLover]

5. Right!

Gawd!🤬

[Texaswitchy]

6. To corner the market.

Then sell them high.

[applegrove]

7. They've since let some of the masks go. Right around the time it came

out a pulp and paper mill in Bristish Columbia was the only place that made medical grade pulp for PPE companies around the world. Seems we are interconnected that way. Trump would say "who would have known that?"

[SheltieLover]

11. Right!

[roamer65]

14. We should be discussing with Canada how to team our efforts

so we can get maximum medical equipment production for the needs of both nations.

Canada is our best friend, not our enemy.