Trump takes 3M to task about masks

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump slammed 3M Co in a tweet after earlier announcing he was invoking the Defence Production Act to get the company to produce face masks.

‘‘We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks. ‘P Act’ all the way. Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doing — will have a big price to pay!’’ Trump said on Twitter.

The Financial Times yesterday reported the Minnesotabased manufacturer had resisted demands by White House officials to send to the US about 10 million N95 respirator masks being produced in Singapore for markets in Asia.

The company was reluctant to accept the request on legal and humanitarian grounds, as medical workers across the region would be deprived of protection, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said.

But 3M executives did commit to exporting a similar number of masks to the US from a plant in China.

At a White House briefing on the coronavirus pandemic yesterday, Trump announced he had signed a Defence Production Act order for 3M to produce face masks.

‘‘Hopefully, they’ll be able to do what they are supposed to do,’’ he said, without elaborating.

The Act grants the president the power to expand industrial production of key materials or products. — Reuters

Mick Fuller yesterday said five Royal Caribbean ships off the country’s east coast would leave for their port of origin after refuelling and restocking.

On Australia’s western coast, state authorities are in a standoff with a German cruise ship docked in Fremantle which is refusing to leave.

Two cruise ships in Florida with Covid19 patients aboard will dock near Fort Lauderdale, resolving a dayslong impasse that drew the attention of President Donald Trump.

There are about 130 Australians on the two Holland America vessels who would fly home promptly, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation yesterday. — Reuters