The Political Push to Sue China for Covid-19
Bloomberg Businessweek|May 11, 2020
Holding the country accountable in U.S. courts will be tough, but plenty of people are trying
Sheridan Prasso, with Patricia Hurtado and Edvard Pettersson
The Political Push to Sue China for Covid-19

President Trump has joined a chorus of calls for China to cough up damages from the Covid-19 pandemic, saying his administration is exploring ways to make the country pay. (“We haven’t determined the final amount yet. It’s very substantial,” Trump said at a press briefing on April 27.) His remarks followed several bills proposed by Republican members of Congress seeking to strip China of its sovereign immunity protection in U.S. courts. That would potentially leave China open to lawsuits seeking billions of dollars in compensation for its handling of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Those lawsuits are multiplying. Two proposed class-action suits have been filed in federal court in Miami, and similar ones have been filed in California, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The state of Missouri has filed a federal suit seeking damages, while Mississippi has also said it will file a case. Next maybe Florida: The state’s chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, wrote of that intention to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, saying that in the meantime, he’ll seek to seize any payments Florida owes to Chinese vendors as well as any unclaimed property of Chinese-owned companies “to offset the debt” that the Chinese Communist Party owes the people of Florida.

This story is from the May 11, 2020 edition of Bloomberg Businessweek.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 11, 2020 edition of Bloomberg Businessweek.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEKView All
Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App

The rise of AI and the fall of Twitter could create opportunities for upstarts

time-read
4 mins  |
March 13, 2023
Running in Circles
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Running in Circles

A subscription running shoe program aims to fight footwear waste

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort
Bloomberg Businessweek US

What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort

Nine wild secrets from the staff at Turtle Bay, who have to manage everyone from haughty honeymooners to go-go-dancing golfers.

time-read
10 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto
Bloomberg Businessweek US

How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto

The best restaurant in the world just began its second pop-up in Japan. Here's what's cooking

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
The Last-Mover Problem
Bloomberg Businessweek US

The Last-Mover Problem

A startup called Sennder is trying to bring an extremely tech-resistant industry into the age of apps

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Tick Tock, TikTok
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Tick Tock, TikTok

The US thinks the Chinese-owned social media app is a major national security risk. TikTok is running out of ways to avoid a ban

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria

A UK company produces colors with less water than conventional methods and no toxic chemicals

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Pumping Heat in Hamburg
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Pumping Heat in Hamburg

The German port city plans to store hot water underground and bring it up to heat homes in the winter

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge

Squid's ability to flourish in warmer waters makes it fitting for a diet for the changing environment

time-read
4 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
New Money, New Problems
Bloomberg Businessweek US

New Money, New Problems

In Naples, an influx of wealthy is displacing out-of-towners lower-income workers

time-read
4 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023