Missouri wins $24 billion lawsuit against Beijing over hoarding of PPE

• Missouri won a roughly $24 billion lawsuit that accused China of hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The victory brings a potential end to a five-year legal battle after Missouri sued Beijing for “obstructing the production, purchase and export of critical medical equipment, including PPE, during the pandemic.”
• As Straight Arrow News previously reported, a court of appeals ruled in January to allow the case to move forward, overturning a lower court’s decision.
• The appeals court, however, ordered accusations be limited to the hoarding of PPE as opposed to the initial suit, which claimed China hid information on the origins of COVID-19.

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Missouri won a roughly $24 billion lawsuit that accused China of hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The victory brings a potential end to a five-year legal battle after Missouri sued Beijing for “obstructing the production, purchase and export of critical medical equipment, including PPE, during the pandemic.”

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How did the case progress to this point?

As Straight Arrow News previously reported, a court of appeals ruled in January to allow the case to move forward, which overturned a lower court’s decision.

The appeals court, however, ordered accusations against China be limited to the hoarding of PPE as opposed to the initial suit, which claimed Beijing hid information on the origins of COVID-19.

What did Missouri’s attorney general say about the judgment?

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey called the federal judge’s ruling on Friday, March 7, a “landmark victory.”

Bailey said in a statement, “China refused to show up to court, but that doesn’t mean they get away with causing untold suffering and economic devastation. We intend to collect every penny by seizing Chinese-owned assets, including Missouri farmland.”

Bailey’s office said that the judgment is the largest dollar amount the state has ever been awarded in a lawsuit, six times larger than the previous record.

Bailey celebrated the ruling on X, writing, “Hey China, you owe Missouri $24 billion. I just won a judgment in court. Pay up — or we start seizing assets and farmland.”

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How has China responded?

China has yet to respond to the judgment, but warned in the past that it may take retaliatory action.