Wilbur Ross roasted for comments on US benefits from Coronavirus
US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has faced harsh criticism after he suggested that the deadly coronavirus outbreak in China could be positive for the American economy.
In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Ross said he believed the coronavirus epidemic that has left millions under lockdown in China would help return jobs to the United States.
"I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America, some to [the] US, probably some to Mexico as well, that's a good point actually," the US secretary of commerce told Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo.
In response to a question whether the outbreak was a risk to the US economy, Ross said, "I don't want to talk about a victory lap over a very unfortunate, very malignant disease."
"The fact is, it does give business yet another thing to consider when they go through their review of their supply chain... So I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America," he added.
The virus has so far killed 213 people and spread to at least 18 countries around the world, with the number of confirmed coronavirus cases standing at 9,809.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared it an international public health emergency.
'Sick and heartless'
The remarks made by Ross were immediately censured, with Democrat congressman Don Beyer taking to Twitter to question seeking business advantages during the deadly outbreak.
Wilbur Ross’ reaction to a disease killing hundreds is to talk about ways to make money off it. Somehow they always find a way to be worse. https://t.co/gKueJfacaa
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 30, 2020
Ross' suggestion that the US could enjoy the economic gains from the virus was also denounced by American journalist, author and talk radio host Michelangelo Signorile, who described the US secretary of commerce as "sick and heartless."
These people are so sick and heartless. And just imagine the uproar if a member of any other administration said this.
— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) January 30, 2020
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says China’s coronavirus ‘will help’ bring jobs back to U.S. https://t.co/KRXR8v4a7Q
Jonathan Metzl, director of the Center for Medicine, Health, and Society at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, also said in a tweet, "This is the kind of thing you say when you have no soul."
Economists believe that the deadly virus could have a bigger impact on the global economy than the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2002 and 2003. SARS infected over 8,000 people, causing more than 700 deaths and is estimated to have cost the world economy more than 30 billion dollars.
The coronavirus has forced global companies including tech giants, car makers and retailers to temporarily shut down in China as authorities extended the Lunar New Year holiday and imposed major travel restrictions across the vast Asian country.
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