Question Period Note: India - India's export ban on N95 masks

What is Canada doing in response to India not releasing a shipment of N95 masks to a Canadian company?

• On January 31, the Government of India put in place an export ban on medical masks and other medical products

• The Government of Canada has been working with our international partners to ensure the continued flow of these essential goods across our borders

• To date, we are not aware of any country having received approvals to import N95 masks from India

• During a recent call with his Indian counterpart, PM Trudeau raised the need to keep supply chains open for medical equipment and the need for increased international cooperation to accelerate the development of diagnostics, treatments, and potential vaccines.

On March 26, a Canadian company, contacted the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) requesting assistance with a shipment of N95 masks that they had ordered from their Indian supplier. At the request of the company, the TCS worked with the Indian supplier to submit a request to Indian officials to allow the shipment to be exported on humanitarian grounds. This request was denied.

On January 31, India put in place export restrictions on medical supplies and banned the export of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including N95 masks.

The Indian government estimates that in order to meet its internal demand over the next two months, the country will need 27 million N95 masks, 15 million pieces of Personal Protective Equipment, 1.6 million diagnostic kits and 50,000 ventilators.

Canada sourced 1.4% of its total imports of N95 masks from India in 2019.

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