Trump cuts WHO funding over coronavirus

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday halted funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), claiming that it had "failed in its basic duty" in its response to the coronavirus outbreak, according to media reports.

The Geneva-based organisation had promoted China’s “disinformation” about the virus that likely led to a wider outbreak than otherwise would have occurred, Trump was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The US funds $400 million to $500 million to the WHO each year, Trump said, noting that China "contributes roughly $40 million”, according to a CNN report.

"Had the WHO done its job to get medical experts into China to objectively assess the situation on the ground and to call out China's lack of transparency, the outbreak could have been contained at its source with very little death," Trump said.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was not the time to reduce resources for the WHO.

Source: http://www.tradearabia.com/news/INTNEWS_366683.html