Trump initially said in his address that the travel restrictions would extend to “trade and cargo” but then made clear they only applied to people.

In hopes of limiting the spread of COVID-19, President Trump orders a suspension of all travel from Europe to the United States.
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON  Minutes after addressing the nation about the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump had to clean up his remarks Wednesday to clarify that he was not proposing a ban on cargo from Europe.
The president outlined strict travel restrictions on passengers arriving in the United States from hard-hit portions of Europe during his Oval Office remarks. 
US President Donald Trump addresses the Nation from the Oval Office about the widening novel coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Washington, DC on March 11, 2020.
 (Photo: DOUG MILLS, POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
And these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo but various other things as we get approval, Trump said. Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing.
But while the Trump administration has sought to limit European imports as part of his trade policy, cargo has never been on the table as a way to control the spread of coronavirus. Cargo from China continued, for instance, even as it became clear that country was at the epicenter of the virus.
The White House quickly noted that the restrictions were focused on people, not boxes, and Trump later appeared to clarify his remarks in a tweet.
The restriction stops people not goods, Trump posted.
Hoping to get the payroll tax cut approved by both Republicans and Democrats, and please remember, very important for all countries & businesses to know that trade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe. The restriction stops people not goods.
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2020
Please remember, very important for all countries & businesses to know that trade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe, he said.
The restrictions on passengers from Europe closely mirrored those approved for China in January.
In explaining the new restrictions, Trump said that the U.S. would be suspending travel from parts of Europe for 30 days. He said there would be exemptions for Americans who had undergone appropriate screenings.
Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said the restrictions would “deny entry to foreign nationals who have been in affected areas.”
Wolf also said DHS would issue a notice in the next 48 hours “requiring U.S. passengers that have been” traveling in parts of Europe to “travel through select airports where the U.S. Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures.”
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