Donald Trump’s commerce secretary has predicted the coronavirus will “accelerate the return of jobs” to the United States, as thousands of newly-confirmed cases of the deadly new disease were reported worldwide.
Speaking to Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo, Wilbur Ross said “every American’s heart has to go out to the victims of the coronavirus” and added: “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.”
Mr Ross went on to list several other viruses and outbreaks, saying: “You had Sars, you had the African swine virus there, now you have this: it’s another risk factor that people need to take into account.”
China has been hit the hardest by the African swine fever, a deadly pig disease reported to have already cut the country’s hog supply in half.
“I think it will help the accelerate the return of jobs to North America,” Mr Ross said about the latest outbreak, adding: “Some to US, probably some to Mexico.”
Ms Bartiromo responded: “Oh, that’s a good point.”
It comes as the World Health Organisation was meeting on Thursday to discuss whether to declare the coronavirus an international public health emergency.
There have reportedly been more than 7,700 cases confirmed in China alone, and at least 170 deaths.
Meanwhile the virus has spread across the globe with more than 6,000 cases worldwide.
Believed to have originated from a market in Wuhan, China, the coronavirus causes pneumonia and, in severe cases, organ failure.
