China challenges $24.5 billion Missouri COVID-19 judgment

Hubei Province and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have retained the U.S.-based law firm White & Case to challenge a $24.5 billion default judgment awarded to the state of Missouri. On August 31, the Chinese entities petitioned a federal court in Missouri to set aside the ruling and dismiss the lawsuit.

The legal dispute originated in April 2020, when Missouri filed suit accusing China, the Chinese Communist Party, and several regional authorities of concealing information regarding COVID-19 and hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE). Missouri argued these actions contributed to shortages and increased costs within the United States.

After the Chinese defendants failed to appear in court, U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. issued a default judgment in March 2025. While the initial compensatory damages were approximately $8.16 billion, the total amount increased to roughly $24.5 billion under federal law. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has stated the state intends to enforce the judgment by targeting Chinese-owned assets, including potential farmland in Missouri.