President Donald Trump says the U.S. will temporarily close its border with Canada to ‘non-essential traffic’ due to the coronavirus pandemic.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the United States will temporarily close its border with Canada to “non-essential traffic” due to the coronavirus pandemic.
We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected. Details to follow!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
President Trump said “We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic,” wrote in a tweet. “Trade will not be affected.
The unprecedented move will close off all non-essential traffic of people and services across the world’s longest unprotected border. Canada and the U.S. are each other’s largest trading partners, with some 70% of Canadian goods destined for the U.S.
Trump’s move came a day after the European Union agreed to close its external borders to non-citizens, and two days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced similar restrictions on his country’s borders.
“Canada and the United States will temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the Canada-U.S. border,” said Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau. “Essential travel will continue…it is critical that we preserve supply chains between both countries.” https://t.co/3zXoHbACiy pic.twitter.com/8M2HFgwNMq
— Power & Politics (@PnPCBC) March 18, 2020
The U.S., Canada and Mexico recently sanctioned a revamped version of the North American Free Trade Agreement, called the United States, Canada Mexico Free Trade agreement, or USMCA.
