China Ordered To Pay Missouri $24B For Pandemic-Related Economic Losses

A Missouri judge has found China responsible for billions in damages after ruling that the country’s handling of personal protective equipment (PPE) contributed to economic harm in the state. The $24 billion decision comes after Missouri filed a lawsuit in 2020, accusing China of stockpiling medical supplies while blocking exports at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey led the case, which alleged that China’s actions violated trade laws and directly caused financial hardship for Missouri. The state claimed that due to China’s control over PPE production and supply chains, Missouri paid significantly more for medical equipment while also experiencing a decline in tax revenue.

The court determined that Missouri spent an additional $122 million on PPE while also losing over $8 billion in tax revenue due to pandemic-related disruptions. Judge Stephen Limbaugh, Jr., ruled that Missouri had presented substantial evidence that China’s actions directly contributed to these losses.

Bailey has stated that if China does not comply with the ruling, Missouri will take action to seize Chinese-owned farmland and other assets within the state to collect on the judgment. China did not contest the case in court, making a default ruling in Missouri’s favor likely.

Missouri remains the only state to take China to court over the pandemic, making this ruling a landmark case. The judgment could pave the way for further legal action from other states seeking accountability for COVID-19’s economic impact.

The case had previously won an early ruling in the Eighth Circuit, strengthening Missouri’s position before the final decision was handed down. The next challenge will be enforcing the ruling and collecting the damages.

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