Government Security News

U.S./Canada sign preclearance agreement to
reduce border congestion, increase efficiency
WASHINGTON – Consistent
with the initiatives outlined in
the 2011 Beyond the Border Action
Plan, Secretary of Homeland
Security Jeh Johnson and Canadian
Minister of Public Safety
and Emergency Preparedness
Steven Blaney today signed the
Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine,
and Air Transport Preclearance
Between the Government
of the United States of America
and the Government of Canada.
This new agreement reaffirms the
United States and Canada’s commitment
to enhancing security
while facilitating lawful travel
and trade, and supersedes the existing
U.S.-Canada Air Preclearance
agreement signed in 2001.
“After years of hard work
and negotiations, today we have
one of the most significant, visible,
and anticipated products of
the Beyond the Border initiative
– a major achievement that will
produce significant benefits for
the United States and Canada,”
said Secretary Johnson. “This
agreement will help facilitate the
legitimate trade and travel that
keeps our economy thriving as
we maintain utmost vigilance to
the security of our borders. We
remain committed to our deep
partnership with Canada, a true
ally, neighbor and friend of the
United States.”
“Our Government’s top priority
remains creating jobs and
opportunities for Canadians,”
said Minister Blaney. “This historic
new agreement builds on
decades of successful preclearance
operations in Canadian airports.
It will enhance the security
at our border and create jobs and
growth in Canada by improving
the flow of legitimate goods and
4
people between our two countries.”
This Preclearance agreement
– allowing for the immigration,
customs and agriculture
inspections required for entry
into either country to occur on
foreign soil – will reduce congestion
and delays at the border
and increase efficiency and predictability
in cross-border travel,
tourism and transportation. The
new agreement provides officials
of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) and Canada Border
Services Agency (CBSA) with
the requisite authorities and tools
to conduct their border security,
facilitation, and inspection processes
in the other country.
This agreement will:
• Allow for the consideration
of requests for new preclearance
locations across all modes;
• Enable exploration of co-location
at small and remote ports,
if desired;
• Provide updates to the Air
Preclearance Agreement to better
reflect the post 9/11 operating