There was a Forbes article about a day in the life of a mask broker and on a single day, 43 million N95 masks in New Jersey were sold overseas. There wasn’t one American buyer because the American buyers didn’t have permission to buy right then and there. Just a joke, basically.
Many other countries stopped N95 mask exports. South Korea initially allowed 10% exports then 0% a couple days later. Crazy that the USA is still exporting medical equipment that is in short supply in the USA. Kind of like the article yesterday about USAID sending medical equipment overseas while we were asking the same countries for the same aid.
This isn’t 3M’s fault.
3M knew full well what was going on through their supply chains. Could and should have stopped it themselves, or via the government.
And it isn’t a matter of them buying right then, but that the foreign companies were paying cash. Yes, you could look to the state and hospital purchasing moving to cash, but that would be a big, big move.
3M is indeed responsible.
Look at the CEO’s interview with Maria B. He uses all kinds of weasel words talking about making sure they are getting the masks to where they are needed—but never says in the US.
Here’s lawyered up disinformation from them making it sound as if they were doing the opposite of what they were doing: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/3ms-collaboration-covid-19-supply-challenges-price-gouging-mike-roman-1e/?trackingId=%2FGfj2fhPTC%2By4swVziD6Nw%3D%3D