Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reminding his counterpart in Washington that trade goes both ways after 3M was ordered to stop exporting medical equipment to Canada and Latin markets.
The order from the Secretary of Homeland Security and Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is dated April 2.
It reads, "The Secretary, through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall use any and all authority available under the act to acquire, from any appropriate subsidiary or affiliate of 3M Company, the number of N-95 respirators that the Administrator determines to be appropriate."
While the order under the Defense Production Act is not entirely clear, the response from 3M leaves naked the meaning.
"The Administration also requested that 3M cease exporting respirators that we currently manufacture in the United States to the Canadian and Latin American markets," it said.
"Ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done," the statement warned. "If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease. That is the opposite of what we and the Administration, on behalf of the American people, both seek."
Trudeau had strong words for the Trump Administration, pointing out that not only does Canada receive medical equipment from the U.S., but it also reciprocates.
"I think of the thousands of nurses, for example, who cross the bridge in Windsor to work in the Detroit medical system every single day," said Trudeau. "These are things Americans rely on --- that is the point that we are making to the American administration right now."
The prime minister made his remarks during the same news conference he announced Amazon Canada would help distribute much-needed medical equipment to the provinces.
On Thursday, he told reporters Canada had received 11 million masks in recent days.
The order to 3M was received Wednesday night, but Trudeau hinted the Canadian government has been aware of the order for days.
"It could end up hurting Americans as much as it hurts anybody else," said Trudeau. "That is the point that we are making, very directly, and have been making for many days now -- and that message is getting through."
Chatham-Kent's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Colby, called on "international goodwill" during a municipal Facebook live public question and answer session on Friday.
As of Friday morning, Canada had 11,283 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The United States had just shy of 245,000.
Trudeau also announced Friday his government would invest $100 million to improve access to food for those facing social, economic, and health impacts during the pandemic. The funding will go to organizations across Canada, including Food Banks Canada, Salvation Army, Second Harvest, and Breakfast Club of Canada.