Wednesday President Trump suspended inbound travel from Europe to the United States. All passenger travel, except for from the UK. The suspension is for 30 days starting on Friday. He is responding to the spread of the coronavirus.
The dramatic step came in an announcement from the Oval Office. It came in a speech as he battles to address the health and economic shocks to American from the sometimes fatal virus. Trump also included in the announcement several economic steps. Those steps aim to cushion the blow to American businesses struggling with a sudden reduction of consumer demand.
In the President’s words
President Trump said, “This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history… I am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures… we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens… we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus… trade will in no way be affected… The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were [from contact with] … travelers from Europe…” Trump also tweeted, “The restriction stops people not goods.”
Economic fallout
U.S. stock are signaling another day of losses awaits Wall Street. Trump’s re-election bid could hinge on how well he responds to this crisis. He stopped short of declaring a national emergency. As we have come to expect he faces criticism from Democrats. No matter what he does or does not do in their eyes it will be wrong. That is simply because he did it, which is the definition of partisan crisis response.
Trump pulled no punches. He explains Europe was partly to blame for the virus’ spread in the United States. The travel restrictions from Europe were similar the earlier imposition on travelers from China. That step was taken this year when the illness was spreading without control there.
Trump signed an order suspending entry to most foreign nationals having been in specified EU countries. It looks at their travel going back 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States. The list of countries included Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, the Homeland Security Department said.
The order does not apply to legal permanent residents or immediate family members of U.S. citizens. It also does not apply to other individuals the proclamations identifies. The restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground.
Conclusion
As the U.S. stock market took another hit from the virus on Wednesday. Trump said he would take emergency action to provide financial relief for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others. He said he was instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments without interest or penalties for certain businesses and individuals affected. He was also instructing the Small Business Administration to provide capital and liquidity to firms affected by the virus. President Trump suspends inbound travel from Europe to the United States for cause for thirty days.