US Travel cheers expansion of Border Preclearance Program in Canada

WASHINGTON, DC – US Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on today’s joint announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama on the expansion of US Customs and Border Protection preclearance locations in Canada:

“Customs preclearance is one of the innovative programs that demonstrates there need not be a zero-sum choice between security and an efficient travel experience. Today’s announcement by President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau speaks to both forward-thinking policymaking and the strong relationship between our two countries.
“First and foremost, pre-clearing passengers from Canada is good for our national security. Canada’s strong security standards ensure that travelers entering the U.S. through Toronto, Quebec City or Montreal will be thoroughly vetted prior to arrival.

“Secondly, this expansion is good for both countries economically—Canada is our nation’s top trading partner, and the recent preclearance additions will likely lead to an increase in trade and travel. Such economic activity is especially valuable to regional markets in the U.S. that are not typically served by direct, non-stop international service.

“Finally, today’s preclearance expansion announcement is welcome news to many domestic airports here in the U.S. These additions in Toronto, Quebec City, and Montreal will help reduce the workload for customs agents at U.S. ports of entry, allowing agents to focus resources on higher-risk targets.

“We thank Prime Minister Trudeau, President Obama, and the U.S. and Canadian customs and border authorities for their quick action on approving this preclearance expansion, and look forward to many similar announcements.”