Freeland Won’t Say If US Wants Border Agreement Extended Beyond June 21

Freeland Won’t Say If US Wants Border Agreement Extended Beyond June 21
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Chrystia Freeland listens to a video conference speaker during a news conference in Ottawa, Friday, May 15, 2020. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
Updated:

WASHINGTON—Canada and the United States are both ”very comfortable“ with their mutual ban on non-essential cross-border travel, but Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland won’t say if the Americans want to extend the restrictions beyond June 21.

Recent media reports suggest the U.S., fearing the importing of COVID-19 cases, wants an indefinite timeline for existing restrictions at both its southern and northern borders. It’s not clear if that pertains to the ban on non-essential travel or is specifically aimed at curtailing immigration.