Missouri Court Awards $24 Billion Judgment Against China Over Pandemic PPE Hoarding

A federal judge ruled that China stockpiled protective equipment while misrepresenting critical information about COVID-19, causing economic harm to Missouri.

• A Missouri federal court ruled that China hoarded personal protective equipment (PPE) during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic while concealing key information about the virus's transmission and severity.
• The court awarded Missouri $24 billion in damages, citing significant economic harm, including over $122 million in inflated PPE costs and $8 billion in lost tax revenue.
• The lawsuit, filed in 2020, accused Chinese entities of violating anti-monopoly laws by restricting PPE exports and taking control of U.S.-owned factories in China, exacerbating supply shortages.
• China did not appear in court to contest the allegations, leading to a default judgment in favor of Missouri, which plans to seize Chinese-owned assets to recover the damages.
• The Chinese government has rejected the ruling, stating it will not recognize the judgment and may implement countermeasures if its interests are affected.

3 Articles

Hindustan Times Washington Post Breitbart