The Chamber of Commerce disagreed with President Trump’s decision to withhold funding from the World Health Organization over its response to the coronavirus.
Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States would halt monetary contributions to the WHO, pending a review into its handling of the outbreak and accused the global organization of pushing “misinformation” about the virus from Chinese health officials.
U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President Myron Brilliant said on Wednesday that the Chamber supports a restructuring of the WHO but argued that completely defunding the organization would negatively impact the U.S. because of the group’s work helping developing nations with their coronavirus responses.
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“The Chamber supports a reformed but functional World Health Organization, and U.S. leadership and involvement are essential to ensuring its transparency and accountability going forward,” Brilliant said in a statement. “However, cutting the WHO’s funding during the COVID-19 pandemic is not in U.S. interests given the organization’s critical role assisting other countries — particularly in the developing world — in their response.”
The president has repeatedly fumed over the WHO’s actions in the beginning of the pandemic recently, despite previously offering support for the organization and Chinese leadership. Last week, he alleged the organization was too “China-centric,” even though the U.S. is the agency’s largest annual contributor, and accused it of pushing Chinese “misinformation.”
U.S. officials and lawmakers have also raised questions about whether China has too much influence over the WHO. The organization opposed travel bans against China, but the Trump administration disregarded its objections and limited travel to and from the country at the end of January.
