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For the first time since Canadian Confederation in 1867, Canada and the U.S. are closing the joint border to most travellers as they fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed on Wednesday morning to bar travellers crossing the world’s longest land border for “recreation and tourism” purposes.

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The partial closure will begin in the next few days, at which point only “essential” or “urgent” travel will be permitted for the foreseeable future, as well as the transit of goods.

“I spoke to President Donald Trump this morning and we have agreed that both Canada and the United States will temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the border,” Trudeau told reporters Wednesday.

“In both our countries, we’re encouraging citizens to stay home. This collaborative and reciprocal measure is an extension of that,” he added.

Hundreds of thousands of people, as well as $2.7 billion in goods and services, cross the 8,891 kilometre-long border between the U.S. and Canada daily. The U.S. is by far Canada’s most important trading partner.

Thus, in order to ensure that food, medical supplies and all other essential goods continue to flow between both countries, the Trudeau government assured that supply chains would still be able to circulate between countries.

“These restrictions will in no way impede trade between Canada and the U.S.,” Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said.

“The Canada-U.S. border is the symbol of an unprecedented partnership. Every day, $2.7 billion-worth of goods and services passes through that border and that trade is essential to both our countries. Our business and way of life depend on that flow,” added Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair.

During a separate press conference Wednesday, Trump said he expects the partial closure to last 30 days and confirmed that there would be no restrictions on trade… “at this moment.”