US and Canada sign new cross-border passenger clearance deal

The US and Canada have signed an agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance.

The agreement will allow the customs officials in Canada and the US to work in each other’s territories to speed up the border clearance process. It will allow for the immigration, customs and agriculture inspections to happen on foreign soil.

Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said: "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."

The agreement is expected to reduce congestion and delays at the border and increase efficiency and predictability in cross-border travel, tourism and transportation.

Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Steven Blaney said: "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 people between our two countries."

Preclearance is the process by which the US Customs and Border Protection officers stationed abroad screen and make admissibility decisions about passengers and their accompanying goods or baggage heading to the US before they leave a foreign port.

CBP officers currently conduct preclearance operations at eight Canadian airports in Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.