Trump says U.S. may seek damages from China over virus
28 April, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that he might seek damages from China over the coronavirus outbreak which commenced in the Chinese city of Wuhan and spread around the world.
"We are not happy with China," Trump said at a White House briefing. "We aren't pleased with that whole situation because we believe it could have already been stopped at the source. It could have already been stopped quickly and it wouldn't have spread everywhere."
"There are a great number of methods for you to hold them accountable," Trump said. "We're doing some very serious investigations as you almost certainly know."
Trump was asked in regards to a recent German newspaper editorial which called on China to pay Germany $165 billion in reparations as a result of monetary damage done by the virus.
Asked if the U.S. would consider doing the same, the U.S. president said "we are able to do something easier than that."
"Germany is looking at things, we are considering things," he said. "We are discussing far more money than Germany's discussing."
"We haven't determined the ultimate amount yet," Trump said. "It is rather substantial. That is worldwide damage. This is harm to the U.S., but that is harm to the world."
There have been a lot more than 55,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the usa and the pandemic has shut down huge swathes of the economy, leaving tens of millions unemployed.
Source: japantoday.com