White House Orders 3M to Stop Exporting Respirators

President Trump invoked the Defense Production Act and ordered 3M to prioritize the supply of N95 masks for the U.S. and to stop exporting respirators to Canada and Latin America.

MedTech Canada strongly criticized the move, saying it “could potentially restrict the free flow of goods between our countries at a time when it is critical that patients on both sides of our border have access to much-needed medical supplies.”

3M said that ceasing to export respirators that the company manufactures in the U.S. for the Canadian and Latin American markets would have “significant humanitarian implications” for healthcare workers in Canada and Latin America.

“In addition, ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, 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,” the company said.