Canadian – U.S. Border Deal for COVID-19 Pandemic Traces its Roots back to NAFTA Talks in 2018

Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., says the diplomatic ties that the two countries established during the 2018 talks to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have played a major role in the successful shared effort to manage the COVID-19 pandemic on both sides of the border. According to Hillman, the agreement, which went into effect a month ago, has been setting the tone ever since for ongoing talks to keep supply chains intact, facilitate imports of protective medical gear and ease the cross-border commutes of vital medical personnel. Canada and the U.S. have since agreed to extend the ban, which continues to allow trade and commerce to flow over the border, until May 21.