Run for the Border

A couple of days ago, U.S. officials announced they were looking to tighten the border between the U.S. and Canada. For decades it has not been necessary for Americans or Canadians to use a passport to go from one country to the other, but within a couple of years, it will be (though, at least for the time being, Canadians will not have to be fingerprinted to enter the country). Although some may see this as directed specifically toward Canadians, Americans coming back across the border will need their passports, too.

Is this evidence of isolationism on the part of the U.S.? I suppose it is, but I can’t get away from the fact that we’re talking about an international border, and the U.S. has the right to protect it as it sees fit. Will this slow commerce between the two countries? It might, but the U.S. and Canada are both talking about biometrics (my unease about which is a subject for another day)--that might actually speed up the process of clearing customs. To prove that the policy is not yet set in stone, they’re also talking about whether other documents, such as some sort of (not-yet-existent) border-crossing card, could be used instead of a passport.

I’m curious to see how Canada will devise its official response. I can see a quid pro quo, in which Canadian customs will also require a passport, but I can just as easily see Canada going the other way, keeping the requirements as they are now in a sort of gee whiz statement of “You guys are welcome here, anytime.”