Trump encourages cruise lines that want stimulus money to register in US
[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he approved of American cruise lines incorporating themselves domestically if they want to access loans from a massive stimulus package.
The US Senate on Wednesday approved a US$2.2 trillion spending bill that sets aside US$500 billion for large corporations, but stipulates that money can only be given to firms "created or organised in the United States."
Major US-headquartered cruise lines are registered in countries with more lenient tax, labour and safety laws like Liberia, where Royal Caribbean is incorporated, and Panama, where Carnival is registered.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Trump said of cruise lines, "I do like the concept of perhaps coming in and registering here."
"It's very tough to make a loan to a company when they're based in a different country," the president said.
Some of the first extensive outbreaks of Covid-19 occurred on cruise ships, forcing them to quarantine at ports and the United States to scramble to repatriate American passengers.
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Mr Trump announced on March 13 that major cruise lines would suspend trips from US ports for 30 days in response to the pandemic.
AFP
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