[einpoklum]

The story says the US doesn't have the raw material(s): NBR. Not quite sure what that is.

[oasisaimlessly]

NBR = nitrile butadiene rubber, a synthetic rubber. Not really a raw material, as it's synthesized.

[RetroTechie]

With all the chemical industry already in the US, and $1B to throw at it, production capacity for the raw material couldn't be included?

It's not like you need a metric ton of it to produce a box of gloves.

[wildzzz]

The issue is that domestic sources of NBR are few because of the type of petroleum extraction we do here. This makes the cost of NBR relatively high and consequently makes the gloves pricey compared to imported ones. We can definitely make.a glove but no one wants to buy them.