(The Center Square) — New York’s Democratic leadership is being criticized for recommending “Chinese-made” masks to upstate residents impacted by the Canadian wildfires.
Last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statewide air quality advisory urging New Yorkers to stay indoors and wear well-fitting N95 or KN95 masks when outdoors. This advisory was prompted by thick smoke from Canadian wildfires that swept through the state, lowering air quality to unhealthy levels.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a similar advisory, touting “free KN95 masks” at distribution sites citywide.
But a national manufacturing industry group pointed out that KN95 is a kind of mask that is generally made in China, not by domestic makers for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and designed for general consumer use, not high-risk environments like smoke from wildfires.
“This is outrageous,” Tom Allen, president of the American Medical Manufacturers Association and CEO of New York-based Altor Safety, said in a statement. “New Yorkers are breathing wildfire smoke, and their leaders are handing out Chinese masks while U.S. manufacturers stand ready with NIOSH-approved N95 respirators. That is a slap in the face to local and US-based manufacturers and a reckless choice for public health.”
AMMA Executive Director Eric Axel said by choosing KN95s, Hochul and Mamdani are “telling people to line up for Chinese masks, bought with American taxpayer funds, during a dangerous smoke emergency.”
“They have a chance to support good-paying jobs in New York City and State,” Axel said in a statement. “Instead, they are bypassing in-state and other U.S. manufacturers who can supply NIOSH-approved N95 respirators. That is bad public health policy, bad economic policy, and bad for our national security.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government and states were forced to rely on China for surgical masks to protect Americans from the virus amid global supply chain bottlenecks. Counterfeit KN95 masks flooded the market as the federal government eased restrictions to allow more personal protective equipment to be brought into the country.
Early in 2020, the Food and Drug Administration revoked emergency authorizations for dozens of Chinese manufacturers after testing revealed some masks filtered as little as 20% of airborne particles.
The trade group also pointed out that the production of surgical masks and other PPE in China is linked to human rights abuses and forced labor, “raising ethical concerns that should matter to all Americans committed to justice.” It pointed to recent investigations by the federal government.
“Even in emergencies, public dollars should not underwrite supply chains tied to human rights and forced labor concerns,” Allen said. “They should support American workers and American standards. Right now, New York is doing the opposite.”
Axel called New York’s decision to distribute Chinese made masks over domestically made products a “watershed moment” for the Empire State’s business climate.
“They have chosen dependence on hostile foreign supply chains over supporting local businesses,” he said. “We urge them to change their course for our safety and security.”
