Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said China’s struggle to combat coronavirus could give businesses another reason to opt to move their companies to North America.
China has been fighting to contain the coronavirus, a highly contagious SARs-like illness, after an outbreak in the city of Wuhan. As global concern rises, some have suggested implementing a travel ban to China while others have halted all business travel to the region. During an interview on Fox Business, Ross, 82, claimed this outbreak gives businesses another reason to move production back to the United States or Mexico.
“First of all, every American’s heart has to go out to the victims of the coronavirus,” Ross said. “So I don’t want to talk about a victory lap over a very unfortunate, very malignant disease. But the fact is, it does give businesses yet another thing to consider when they go through their review of their supply chain.”
He added, “And top of all the other things, because you had SARS, you have the African swine virus there, now you have this. It’s another risk factor that people need to take into account. So I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America, some to U.S., probably some to Mexico as well.”
At least 7,711 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide. There have also been 170 deaths connected to the disease, though some claim that may be a low estimate by the Chinese government. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, claimed the disease is actually “much worse” than what China has reported.
UPDATE: In a statement to the Washington Examiner, a representative for the Department of Commerce said, “As Secretary Ross made clear, the first step is to bring the virus under control and help the victims of this disease. It is also important to consider the ramifications of doing business with a country that has a long history of covering up real risks to its own people and the rest of the world. Fortunately, the Department of Commerce is equipped to support the American people and our businesses to do both.”
