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