Trump, 3M clash over order to produce more face masks for US

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By DAVID KOENIG and ZEKE MILLER

President Donald Trump said Friday his administration will try to stop “profiteers” from exporting medical protective gear, shortly after picking a fight with manufacturing giant 3M, a major producer and exporter of face masks used to protect health care workers from the coronavirus.

3M argued that blocking exports will raise “significant humanitarian implications” abroad and lead other countries to retaliate by withholding much-needed medical supplies from the U.S.

Nearly all of 3M’s exports of high-grade N95 masks go to Canada and Latin America, and Canadian officials led by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau took the company’s side. They lobbied Trump administration officials not to cut off part of their supply.

That was not enough to persuade Trump.



FILE - In this March 5, 2020, file photo, Dr. Deborah Birx, Ambassador and White House coronavirus response coordinator, holds a 3M N95 mask as she and Vice President Mike Pence visit 3M headquarters in Maplewood, Minn., in a meeting with the company's leaders and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to coordinate response to the COVID-19 coronavirus. On Friday, April 3, 2020, the manufacturing giant pushed back against criticism from Trump over production of face masks that are badly needed by American health care workers. 3M said the administration asked it to stop exporting medical-grade masks to Canada and Latin America, which the company said raises “significant humanitarian implications” and will backfire by causing other countries to retaliate against the U.S. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File)/Star Tribune via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/cbed1f366882b07ecc5a45cdee9f4e1e

[SheltieLover]

1. K&R

[link:https://www.propublica.org/article/taxpayers-paid-millions-to-design-a-low-cost-ventilator-for-a-pandemic-instead-the-company-is-selling-versions-of-it-overseas-|

[Dem2theMax]

2. That's rich!

President Donald Trump said Friday his administration will try to stop “profiteers” from exporting medical protective gear.

Hey Trump? Go look in the mirror.

[underpants]

6. He can use the DPA to set prices

but he can't process not ripping people off.

[iluvtennis]

10. + 1 nt.

[Mc Mike]

13. The Joint Chiefs' procurement General said it wasn't his job to disrupt the supply chain.

So the supplies 'have to' go to the private sector for a state bidding war, and the profit gouge is built in. It's built in, baked in, as unchangeable, like laws of thermodynamics or gravity.

[Adsos Letter]

3. Pence's thought balloon...

“OMG, where is Mother?!”

[underpants]

4. Dumbasses

Only thinking of themselves and grandstanding

[babylonsister]

5. Patriotism and concern for everyone shining through as always. nt

[docgee]

7. Cue MAGAts boycott of 3M products.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

8. trumpie forgets that that cuts both ways.

Canada sends medical products to the US in an abundance. Including MDs and RNs and ARNPs and technicians, who come across the Border every day to jobs in American medical facilities.

If trumpie wants to stop profiteering, then he needs to start with himself.

And get that rat-faced ferret SIL out of our faces.

[luvtheGWN]

16. 3M can't make the masks without

the pulp that comes from only one source -- Nanaimo, British Columbia.

Canada doesn't have all the manufacturing capability we need, but the US doesn't have all the raw materials it needs. We have a symbiotic relationship which the orangeanus doesn't understand.

[BusyBeingBest]

9. Deliberately trying to stick it to Trudeau.

I understand and agree with limiting exports right now, but there's no reason why we shouldn't be sending at least SOME to our neighbors in the Americas.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. Neighbor ALLIES who did not build factories on the PROMISE that 3M products would be available.

Trust between trusted allies.

Or so it was before tRump was elected.

[NBachers]

11. What he means is he's bumping off the profiteering competition. After looting the National Stockpile

and putting it up for auction, he wants the criminal proceeds going only into his pockets.

[Hotler]

17. and his rich supporters pocket. He doesn't work alone. nt

[Cognitive_Resonance]

14. This is ALL on the Trump team's failure to plan, prepare, or execute. They were warned. n/t

[paleotn]

15. What could this guy....

NOT fuck up. The same administration who shipped tons of supplies to China. Seriously, I can discern no logical thought process or strategy in anything he does. Hell, it's not even tactically sound. He simply reacts like a 5 year old, with no thought of the past or any future ramifications.

No wonder his supporters love him so. He's just as immature, stupid and petty as they are. As apt to damage himself with his pettiness as anyone else. But his supporters don't mind. They routinely do the same shit to themselves.