New Canada-U.S. border deal

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama have reached a new border deal aiming at expediting border-crossing for people and goods. Canadians travelling south of the border should see physical improvements at road crossings, increased promotion of NEXUS passes to non-business travellers, and their luggage checked through to a connecting flight without the current re-checking before boarding connections in the United States. A key feature of the deal is the recording and sharing of travellers’ entry and exit dates between U.S. and Canadian customs, which may affect day trippers and cross-border shoppers. For businesses, the deal will raise the exemption of the NAFTA certificate of origin to $2,500, expand programs aimed at speeding up border-crossing for qualifying trusted traders and their cargo, and reduce redundant checks performed by both customs agencies at the border.

CBC