Missouri Secures $24B Judgment Against China For COVID-19 PPE Hoarding

A federal judge has ruled in favor of Missouri’s lawsuit against China — finding the Chinese Communist Party liable for hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision hands the state a $24 billion judgment against China — marking a major legal victory.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey led the charge against China — filing the lawsuit in 2020. The case accused China of restricting PPE production and exports — as well as nationalizing U.S.-affiliated factories — which contributed to shortages in the early months of the pandemic. Bailey argued that China’s actions resulted in Missouri spending millions more than it otherwise would have on essential medical supplies.

Missouri District Judge Stephen Limbaugh — Jr. — found that China had violated federal and state anti-monopoly laws. He determined that China’s decision to control PPE markets had a direct impact on Missouri’s economy — including lost tax revenue and inflated costs for supplies.

The court noted that Missouri lost more than $8 billion in tax revenue and paid over $122 million extra for PPE due to the supply restrictions imposed by China. The judge stated that Missouri had presented “substantial evidence” demonstrating that China’s actions contributed to the crisis.

Bailey has vowed to collect on the judgment — stating that if China refuses to pay — he intends to seize Chinese-owned farmland in Missouri. China did not appear in court to contest the lawsuit — increasing the likelihood that Missouri will move forward with asset seizures.

Missouri remains the only state to take legal action against China over the COVID-19 pandemic. The case could set a precedent for other states seeking damages over China’s handling of the virus.

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