- A shipment of 3M protective masks that was bound for Berlin was diverted from Thailand and sent to the US, according to a report from the Financial Times.
- The reported diversion of the 200,000 masks was called "an act of modern piracy," by Berlin Interior Minister Andreas Geisel.
- The development follows President Donald Trump's criticism of 3M for sending masks to countries other than the US, though the company has increased imports to the US of the critical protective equipment.
- 3M CEO Mike Roman responded to Trump's criticism on Friday, calling it "absurd," and said that stopping shipments to other countries would pose a humanitarian risk.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
A shipment of masks made by US manufacturer 3M that was bound for Germany was diverted from Thailand and sent to the United States instead, according to a report from the Financial Times.
The diversion of the 200,000 protective masks intended for healthcare workers and emergency staff in Berlin was "an act of modern piracy," Berlin Interior Minister Andreas Geisel told the Financial Times.
The move comes after President Donald Trump enacted the Defense Production Act to force 3M to prioritize making protective equipment like masks for the US.
The Trump administration has criticized Minnesota-based 3M for sending protective equipment to countries other than the United States, although the company has ramped up imports into the US from production facilities in China.
3M said on Friday that it recently received approval to send over 10 million N95 respirator masks from its facilities in China to the US.
The White House, 3M, and the German embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
3M CEO Mike Roman responded to Trump's criticism on Friday, saying the company has "been telling the administration for days and days" about its efforts to bring protective equipment like the in-demand N95 respirator masks into the US.
The Trump administration asked 3M to stop exporting masks made in the US to Canada and Latin America, the company said in a statement on Friday. 3M said halting those exports would have "significant humanitarian implications" in those regions, where 3M is "a critical supplier of respirators."
Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story.
And get the latest coronavirus analysis and research from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is impacting businesses.
Next Story
I quit McKinsey after 1.5 years. I was making over $200k but my mental health was shattered.
Some Tesla factory workers realized they were laid off when security scanned their badges and sent them back on shuttles, sources say
I tutor the children of some of Dubai's richest people. One of them paid me $3,000 to do his homework.
Top 10 Must-visit places in Kashmir in 2024
The Psychology of Impulse Buying
Indo-Gangetic Plains, home to half the Indian population, to soon become hotspot of extreme climate events: study
7 Vegetables you shouldn’t peel before eating to get the most nutrients
Gut check: 10 High-fiber foods to add to your diet to support digestive balance
