3M strikes deal with White House to supply Canada with N95 masks

WASHINGTON — 3M Co. says it has reached an agreement with the U.S. federal government that will enable it to continue supplying Canada and other countries with N95 masks. The Minnesota-based conglomerate reacted with dismay last week when U.S. President Donald Trump invoked an emergency statute to divert goods bound for export to the domestic market. Over the weekend, however, 3M and the White House “worked together to ensure that this plan does not create further humanitarian implications for countries currently fighting the COVID-19 outbreak,” the company announced in a statement. “The plan will also enable 3M to continue sending U.S.-produced respirators to Canada and Latin America, where 3M is the primary source of supply.”