Impact on US Air Cargo Transport Industry Due to China's Strengthened COVID-19 Prevention Measures

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Sunmi Park] U.S. air cargo carriers such as UPS and FedEx have requested support from the White House and U.S. government agencies, stating that smooth cargo transportation has become difficult due to China's strengthened COVID-19 quarantine measures.

On the 2nd, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources, reported that UPS appealed to senior White House officials including Mark Meadows, White House Chief of Staff, and Jared Kushner, senior advisor to President Donald Trump and his son-in-law, to prevent supply chain disruptions that could arise from the inability to ensure smooth cargo transportation.

FedEx also reportedly requested assistance by expressing their concerns to officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Chinese authorities. This is due to concerns that China's COVID-19 quarantine policies, accompanied by strengthened border inspections, could cause disruptions in cargo transportation. The White House has not yet commented on this matter.

China is strengthening COVID-19 quarantine for incoming travelers to prevent overseas re-importation of the virus. Although there are regional differences, it is common practice to collect specimens from the nose and throat using swabs for diagnostic testing and to quarantine these individuals for 14 days at designated facilities.

The same measures apply to pilots and crew members operating U.S. air cargo flights. Chinese authorities recently notified air transport companies that pilots and crew members, without exception, must undergo the lengthy Chinese-style COVID-19 diagnostic and quarantine procedures upon entering China. Additionally, Chinese authorities require pilots and crew members to move to government-designated quarantine facilities rather than staying in hotels and to comply with quarantine policies.

However, employees of U.S. air transport companies, who had previously stayed only in hotels after entry before returning to the U.S., have expressed resistance to the strengthened Chinese quarantine measures. On the 27th of last month, UPS pilots reportedly refused these measures and even received visa cancellation warnings from the Chinese side.

UPS expressed dissatisfaction, stating, "Our employees are undergoing aggressive testing in China." UPS also reported that some pilots were suspected of virus infection in China but that diagnostic test results have not yet been released, and that these individuals are not being kept in China but are being brought to the U.S. to receive medical observation at American hospitals.

FedEx also revealed that some flights to Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, have been suspended due to China's strengthened quarantine measures. While cities like Shanghai provide conveniences for cargo flight operations to support the economy, Guangzhou authorities have implemented stringent quarantine procedures, including mandatory quarantine for cargo pilots and crew members, which has caused resistance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.