Deal would allow goods to continue to flow between the U.S. and Canada to preserve vital cross-border trade relationships.

The United States and Canada will temporarily close their shared border to non-essential travel while continuing to allow goods to move between the countries to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. “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,” President Donald Trump tweeted this morning.

Trucks have continued to move relatively freely between the two countries as the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened alongside travel restrictions. On Monday, March 16, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced sweeping restrictions that closed the country’s borders to most non-Canadian and U.S. citizens, with exemptions for trade.

“Our drivers have been professional while practicing good hygiene and social distancing,” one trucker said. To date, U.S. and Canadian officials have stressed the need to keep supply chains open during the pandemic.

Source: Freightwaves