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| US and Canada to close border to non-essential traffic | US and Canada to close border to non-essential traffic |
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| Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau announce ‘mutual’ decision, while president also says he will invoke Defense Production Act | |
| Donald Trump has announced the US will close its border with Canada to “non-essential traffic” in an attempt to curb what he again called the “Chinese virus”, prompting further allegations of racism. | |
| The president also said he would invoke the Defense Production Act, aimed at getting the private sector to produce more emergency supplies, and deploy two big hospital ships to New York and the west coast. | |
| In a string of tweets about the coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday, Trump wrote: “We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected. Details to follow!” | |
| At the White House coronavirus task force briefing, he added: “You can only be vigilant and very professional, but it’s not pertaining at this moment to trade between the two countries.” | |
| Such a move raises fresh questions over America’s southern border with Mexico but was welcomed by Canada, as health officials grapple with a surge in coronavirus cases originating in US. | Such a move raises fresh questions over America’s southern border with Mexico but was welcomed by Canada, as health officials grapple with a surge in coronavirus cases originating in US. |
| Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said: “We’re encouraging people to stay home. We’re telling our citizens not to visit their neighbours if they don’t absolutely have to. This collaborative and reciprocal measure is an extension of that prudent approach. I want to be clear though, that essential travel will continue.” | Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said: “We’re encouraging people to stay home. We’re telling our citizens not to visit their neighbours if they don’t absolutely have to. This collaborative and reciprocal measure is an extension of that prudent approach. I want to be clear though, that essential travel will continue.” |
| Trudeau was speaking outside his home in Ottawa. For nearly a week, he has been in self-quarantine after his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for Covid-19. | Trudeau was speaking outside his home in Ottawa. For nearly a week, he has been in self-quarantine after his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for Covid-19. |
| The longest undefended land border in the world, spanning more than 5,000 miles, represents a critical lifeline for both countries, with billions in goods passing through each day. The last time the border closed was in the days after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. | The longest undefended land border in the world, spanning more than 5,000 miles, represents a critical lifeline for both countries, with billions in goods passing through each day. The last time the border closed was in the days after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. |
| Trudeau added: “Our governments recognise that it is critical that we preserve supply chains between both countries. These supply chains ensure that food, fuel and life-saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border.” | Trudeau added: “Our governments recognise that it is critical that we preserve supply chains between both countries. These supply chains ensure that food, fuel and life-saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border.” |
| Trump’s decision to work with Trudeau contrasted with his earlier move to ban most travel from Europe, which was abruptly announced in a televised Oval Office address and blindsided many officials. | Trump’s decision to work with Trudeau contrasted with his earlier move to ban most travel from Europe, which was abruptly announced in a televised Oval Office address and blindsided many officials. |
| Christopher Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center thinktank in Washington, said: “The most significant aspect of the decision to restrict crossings at the US-Canadian border is that it was mutual, with both Washington and Ottawa taking coordinated action that allows for essential shipments and individuals to cross. | Christopher Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center thinktank in Washington, said: “The most significant aspect of the decision to restrict crossings at the US-Canadian border is that it was mutual, with both Washington and Ottawa taking coordinated action that allows for essential shipments and individuals to cross. |
| “That was not the approach taken by the United States with China nor Europe, and it is the fruit of nearly two decades of efforts by the United States and Canada after the September 11 attacks to adopt a shared border management approach that is data-driven, utilizing risk management to allocate personnel and technology to keep the border open to legitimate trade and travelers in an emergency.” | “That was not the approach taken by the United States with China nor Europe, and it is the fruit of nearly two decades of efforts by the United States and Canada after the September 11 attacks to adopt a shared border management approach that is data-driven, utilizing risk management to allocate personnel and technology to keep the border open to legitimate trade and travelers in an emergency.” |
| The total number of known US infections has surged past 7,000 with cases reported in all 50 states. Trump has struck a more sombre and serious tone in recent days and, on Wednesday, referred to himself as a “wartime president”. | |
| He told reporters: “To this day, nobody’s seen anything like what they were able to do during World War II. And now it’s our time. We must sacrifice together, because we are all in this together, and we’ll come through together.” | |
| Trump urged young people to make “sacrifices” for the greater good and announced the Department of Housing and Urban Development would suspend all foreclosures and evictions until the end of April. Mike Pence, the vice-president, urged hospitals to delay elective procedures. | |
| But Trump raised eyebrows when he was asked about professional sportspeople without symptoms reportedly getting tests while others are waiting in line and cannot get them. A reporter asked: “Do the well-connected go to the front of the line? Should that happen?” Trump replied: “No, I wouldn’t say so ... but perhaps that’s been the story of life.” | |
| Critics have accused Trump of initially playing down the threat and providing misleading information on issues such as the availability of testing. His claim on Tuesday that “I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic,” was met with widespread derision. | |
| On Wednesday the president used Twitter to defend his handling of the crisis and lashing out at media coverage. He posted: “I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning, including my very early decision to close the ‘borders’ from China – against the wishes of almost all. Many lives were saved. The Fake News new narrative is disgraceful & false!” | On Wednesday the president used Twitter to defend his handling of the crisis and lashing out at media coverage. He posted: “I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning, including my very early decision to close the ‘borders’ from China – against the wishes of almost all. Many lives were saved. The Fake News new narrative is disgraceful & false!” |
| But his brazen repetition of the phrase “Chinese virus” in this and other tweets sparked fresh condemnation. The World Health Organization has advised against such terminology, warning that it could be “stigmatising”. There are fears it will fuel discrimination against Asian Americans. | |
| Asked on why he keeps using the phrase, Trump replied: “Because it comes from China. It’s not racist at all, no, not at all. It comes from China, that’s why, I want to be accurate… | |
| “I have great love for all of the people from our country but, as you know, China tried to say at one point – maybe they stopped now – that it was caused by American soldiers. That can’t happen. It’s not going to happen, not as long as I’m president. It comes from China.” | |
| But Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state defeated by Trump in the 2016 election, tweeted: “The president is turning to racist rhetoric to distract from his failures to take the coronavirus seriously early on, make tests widely available, and adequately prepare the country for a period of crisis.” | |
| She added: “Don’t fall for it. Don’t let your friends and family fall for it.” | She added: “Don’t fall for it. Don’t let your friends and family fall for it.” |
| Republicans, however, are backing the president. Liz Cheney, a senior congresswoman and daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney, wrote on Twitter: “We must never forget: We are in the midst of a pandemic lockdown today because the Chinese Communist regime cared more about suppressing information than suppressing a virus.” | Republicans, however, are backing the president. Liz Cheney, a senior congresswoman and daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney, wrote on Twitter: “We must never forget: We are in the midst of a pandemic lockdown today because the Chinese Communist regime cared more about suppressing information than suppressing a virus.” |
| The White House is working with Congress to approve $1tn economic stimulus legislation amid fears that millions of jobs will be lost. Late on Tuesday, the administration asked Congress for another $45.8bn to shore up federal agencies, seeking extra money to help sanitise airports, get protective equipment to federal officers and strengthen cyber defences. | |