President Donald Trump angrily ordered manufacturer 3M to produce more masks and stop all exports to Canada and Latin America. However, 3M is warning the President that such move could have a negative effect rather than positive.
As per usual, on Thursday Donald Trump has sent out an angry tweet addressed at his antagonist. This time, however, it wasn't a political rival but a crucial American manufacturer. 3M, the brand making immense profits with their protective gear, has been asked by the President to do far more than it has so far in order to provide Americans with N95-standard masks.
The President has used the power granted to him by the Defense Production Act (DPA), which allows presidents to order manufacturers to switch to specific products at times of special need. Trump was initially very reluctant to use the DPA, instead negotiating with individual companies to deliver specific products. But the outcome wasn't great. For example, negotiations with General Motors to deliver thousands of ventilators fell through over the pricing suggested by the car manufacturer. This resulted in Trump using DPA to order both GM and Ford to shift to ventilators.
