It's becoming clearer now, at least to me.
On the news this morning, they explained that 3M has a very high investment in China. They make hundreds of products including stuff we use in offices every day; Scotch Brand products. Then a huge number of industrial products. Many (or most) of these are made in China.
Although they produce most of their masks in China, they are not allowed to export them, even though it is a US company and they want to export some to the US. But China wants more and gladly imports as many as they can get. And they will pay top dollar.
So there it is. China won't allow exports but will buy and import. Don't expect to get a respirator out of China, nor gowns, gloves or anything else. But they will buy.
Based on what I see this morning, the shit is hitting the fan and 3M is right in the middle. They are selling some of the US made stuff that we need back to China or other countries who are waving cash in their face.
Rub a Dub