US to Seize Exports of Masks and Gloves Amid COVID-19 Crisis

US to Seize Exports of Masks and Gloves Amid COVID-19 Crisis
N95 masks at a 3M lab in Maplewood, Minnesota, on March 4, 2020. Nicholas Pfosi/Reuters
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WASHINGTON—The United States will seize exports of key protective medical gear until it determines whether the equipment should be kept in the country to combat the spread of the new coronavirus, two federal agencies announced on Wednesday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will hold exports of respirators, surgical masks, and surgical gloves, according to a joint announcement made with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA will then determine if the equipment should be returned for use in the United States, purchased by the U.S. government, or exported.