President Donald Trump has ordered the Minnesota-based mega mask producer 3M to prioritize domestic orders, and to stop exporting masks to Canada and Latin America as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe.
According to the Washington Post, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not taking kindly to the interference.
“These are things that Americans rely on,” Trudeau said, “and it would be a mistake to create blockages or reduce the amount of back-and-forth trade of essential goods and services, including medical goods, across our border.”
Other allies have also lodged accusations against the United States.
German officials claimed that over 200,000 masks en route from China were diverted to the United States; France and Brazil complained that the United States was outbidding them in their attempts to secure needed supplies.
Andreas Geisel, Berlin’s interior minister, called it “an act of modern piracy.” 3M said that it had no reports of equipment being seized.
In an interview with CNBC, 3M Chief Executive Michael Roman said that the company is “the sole provider in many cases of the respiratory protection for health-care workers in countries around the world.”
“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,” 3M added in a statement.
We all know how this story ends: It will turn out that Trump and Kushner are seizing all these masks for their personal profit and political gain, but the Republicans won’t do anything. All the more reason for Pelosi to keep the pressure on, every day.
“He’s got scams you never even dreamed of. He’s got kickbacks on his kickbacks. There’s a river of dirty money running through this place.”
That’s the funny thing about global supply chains… Might be an american company, but when the product is manufactured in China, you just don’t have the same leverage.
Didn’t his very very talented SIL Kushner (with NO experience and failed Middle East Peace plan) took over the Covid Pandemic Response to take care of the supply chain since he said know more now about the Covid modeling use for forecasting?
Seems like Jared knows more about profiting during a pandemic than managing it!
Meanwhile…Covidiot Trump does not want to wear face mask/covering even if CDC recommends!
OT but related to supply chain…Let’s help our postal system employees.
Addendum:
Kudos to OR Gov. brownfor sending ventilators to NY!
Addendum2:
LOL…Melania did NOT get the memo from her hubby…he said he is NOT wearing face covering!