Canada extends non-essential travel ban on the United States

Canada has extended a ban on non-essential travel with the United States and the rest of the world until July 21, officials said on Friday, sparking frustration among businesses and U.S. lawmakers.

Canada is under pressure from companies and the tourism industry to ease the ban, which was introduced in March 2020 to limit the spread of the coronavirus and has been renewed monthly since then.

But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood firm, saying the border would remain largely closed until 75% of Canadians received the first of a two-dose coronavirus vaccine and 20% received both shots.

Although Trudeau said that Canada basically reached the first target, the official data he spoke to showed that 73.4% got their first shot. Only 5.5% of the eligible population had both shots.

"Even a fully vaccinated person can pass COVID-19 to someone who has not been vaccinated," Trudeau told reporters, saying Canada should avoid 'further massive waves.

The extended border closure comes as the western province of Alberta announced plans to fully reopen on July 1, lifting virtually all remaining public health restrictions after 70% of eligible Albertans received their first vaccination dose.

The travel ban does not affect trade in goods, but Statistics Canada said total exports of services in 2020 compared to 2019 fell by 17.7%, and imports of services fell by 24.0%, partly due to the boundary restrictions. Travel and transportation services were particularly affected.

"The inability of the U.S. and Canadian governments to reach an agreement on easing border restrictions ... is simply unacceptable," said U.S. Representatives Brian Higgins and Bill Huizenga, co-chairs of the Canada-US Interparliamentary Group.

Harley Finkelstein, president of the Canadian e-commerce company Shopify Inc (SHOP.TO), tweeted that the extended border closure was the wrong decision. "We must open the border immediately to fully vaccinated travellers," he wrote.