MINNEAPOLIS — 3M Co. must divert N95 masks bound for Canada to the U.S. market as U.S. President Trump has invoked a 1950 law allowing him to mobilize production of key goods during an emergency. In a statement, 3M welcomed the application of the Defense Production Act but warned of the “significant humanitarian implications of ceasing respirator supplies to health-care workers in Canada and Latin America, where we are a critical supplier of respirators.”
The company also expressed concerns that the move could provoke retaliatory measures from other countries, an option Justin Trudeau ruled out on Canada’s part within hours. Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed however the effect of the White House’s decision. “Our order hasn’t been fulfilled yet,” he said. “[3M is] disagreeing with a presidential order but physically when you get a presidential order you can’t just ship the items out.”
