CA/US Borders Remain Open To Essential Traffic AND Trade

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By Pacific Customs Brokers, Pacific Customs Brokers Mar 18, 2020

To our valued clients and community,

Your Summarized Takeaway:

Supply chains, including trucking, continue to operate as normal with regard to the border until a specific announcement is made otherwise.

As you may be aware, Canada and the U.S. have mutually decided to close the northern border to non-essential traffic, as per President Trump’s address this morning:

"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."

Questions you might be asking:

1. What does this mean to me and my goods? 
2. Are my goods considered essential?
3. Am I out of business?

We have reached out to our contacts at CBSA and received the following response:

"It is appropriate to inform your clients that until and unless a specific announcement is made that their operations are restricted, they should continue to operate as normal with regard to the border. I appreciate the need for precision from a business planning perspective but we are unable to give you anything beyond what I have provided above. Obviously, we will continue to monitor and advise of any developments. In the meantime, the CBSA website provides the most recent, up-to-date information that we have."

Prime Minister Trudeau’s subsequent speech this morning confirmed and clarified the following:

“I spoke to President Donald Trump this morning, and we have agreed that both Canada and the United States will temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the border. Travelers will no longer be permitted for recreation and tourism. This collaborative and reciprocal measure is an extension of that. It is critical that we maintain supply chains between countries, Trudeau added. Supply chains, including trucking, will not be affected by this measure. Canadians crossing for other urgent measures will also not be affected."

The Takeaway For You, Our Client:

Although both Canada and the United States will temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the border, and travelers will no longer be permitted for recreation and tourism, it is critical that we maintain supply chains between both countries. Supply chains, including trucking, will not be affected by this measure.

Again, we would like to remind you that during these extraordinary times we recognize the stress and concern this pandemic continues to raise and are committed to supporting you, our client, in any way we can. Email us, call us, chat us, we are here to help you. Our doors remain open to assist in keeping your import and transport activities and our collective economies going.

Sincerely,

The Pacific Group of Companies

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Canada Border Services Agency