U.S.-Canada joint initiative: Temporary restriction of travellers crossing the U.S.-Canada border for non-essential purposes

The U.S.-Canada land border serves as an economic engine that supports over $2.4 billion dollars in daily trade. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States and Canada are temporarily restricting all non-essential travel across its borders. Both governments are encouraging people to exercise caution by avoiding unnecessary contact with others.

“Non-essential” travel includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.

The United States and Canada recognize it is critical they preserve supply chains between both countries. These supply chains ensure that food, fuel, and life-saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border. Supply chains, including trucking, will not be impacted by this new measure. Americans and Canadians also cross the land border every day to do essential work or for other urgent or essential reasons, and that travel will not be impacted.

This joint initiative to temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the U.S.-Canada land border was implemented on March 21, 2020. The measure will be in place for 30 days, at which point it will be reviewed by both parties. Please contact our lawyers at Border Law Firm for further details.