Maybe The U.S. Doesn't Want The Border Open, Either: Some See No Change Until August

Maybe The U.S. Doesn’t Want The Border Open, Either: Some See No Change Until August

July 14, 2021 ctn_admin

Canadians who arue for a more open U.S. border have seemed to blame the Trudeau government for the continued closure orders. But it could be that the Biden administration is equally reticent.

There have been reports that Biden wants the Canadian border to open soon, at least for fully vaccinated Americans. But a story from Reuters says that might not be the case.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo this week said she’s pushing to have restrictions ease for would be travellers to the States, but that American health officials are worried about more outbreaks.

“We’re working it,” Raimondo told Reuters in an interview “I’m pushing really hard.”

Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg also is said to be very much in favour of opening the border.

The Reuters story said the U.S. has working groups talking with Canada and other countries about the border and travel rules. “But U.S. officials say they still have no timetable and travel industry officials think the restrictions may not be lifted until August or later.”

That theory jibes with a Toronto Star story today that quotes two Canadian government sources as suggesting that only minor changes will be announced in the next few days. The current closure order on the Canada-U.S. border expires July 21.