Missouri has secured a historic $24 billion judgment against China for its role in the COVID-19 pandemic, following a federal court ruling that found the Chinese government and affiliated entities liable for damages. The case, originally filed in 2020 by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, accused China of hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) and obstructing the supply chain, resulting in financial and economic devastation for the state.
A Landmark Victory for Missouri
U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. ruled in favor of Missouri on Friday, awarding the state $24,488,825,457 plus interest, to be compounded annually at a rate of 3.91 percent. The lawsuit named multiple Chinese government entities and institutions, including the People’s Republic of China, the Communist Party of China, the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Emergency Management, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
In his ruling, Judge Limbaugh stated, “China’s campaign to hoard the global supply of PPE was performed in conjunction with its repeated misrepresentations on the existence, and then scope and human-to-human transmissibility of, the COVID-19 virus.” He noted that Missouri provided substantial evidence proving that the state’s economy suffered significant harm as a result of China’s actions. The judge agreed that China violated state and federal anti-monopoly laws, leading to “lost net general tax revenue” and increased PPE expenditures.
Missouri’s Plan to Collect the Judgment
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey celebrated the court’s decision, calling it a “landmark victory for Missouri and the United States in the fight to hold China accountable for unleashing COVID-19 on the world.” Bailey made it clear that Missouri intends to collect the full amount owed, even if that means seizing Chinese-owned assets within the state.
“China refused to show up to court, but that doesn’t mean they get away with causing untold suffering and economic devastation,” Bailey said. “We intend to collect every penny by seizing Chinese-owned assets, including Missouri farmland.”
Bailey also took to social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Hey China, You owe Missouri $24 BILLION. I just won a judgment in court. Pay up — or we start seizing assets and farmland.”
The Case Against China
Missouri’s lawsuit alleged that China intentionally obstructed the production, purchase, and export of essential medical supplies at the height of the pandemic. The state claimed that China nationalized American factories producing PPE and hoarded protective equipment that was meant for international markets, including the United States.
According to court records, Missouri spent over $122 million more on PPE than it otherwise would have due to China’s hoarding tactics. Additionally, the state estimated that it lost more than $8 billion in tax revenue as a result of the economic disruptions caused by the pandemic.
The lawsuit also accused China of suppressing early information about the outbreak and misleading the world about the virus’s transmissibility. While the court ultimately limited the lawsuit’s claims to PPE hoarding, the ruling represents one of the most significant legal actions taken against China regarding the pandemic.
Next Steps
The ruling comes after a lengthy legal battle that began in 2020 and was initially dismissed by a lower court before being reinstated by a federal appeals court earlier this year. Now, Missouri faces the challenge of enforcing the judgment, as China has thus far refused to participate in the legal process.
Bailey has indicated that Missouri is prepared to work with federal authorities, including the Trump administration, to identify and seize Chinese-owned assets in the United States. “We will not allow the CCP to manipulate the legal process to evade justice—our mission is to fight for the truth and recover damages for the people of Missouri,” he said.
As Missouri moves forward with efforts to collect on the judgment, the case sets a precedent for other states and entities seeking to hold China accountable for the global impact of COVID-19.
