Senator Charles Schumer is again calling for implementation of a pre-clearance processing center at the Peace Bridge as another step toward easing traffic congestion, once more travelers are allowed to travel between the United States and Canada.
Schumer met virtually earlier this week with Alejandro Mayorkas, President-Elect Joe Biden's nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security, at which time he renewed his pitch for per-clearance.
“Once we emerge from the pandemic, our cross-border economy is going to be the key to Western New York’s economic recovery. It can’t be stressed enough how important it is to keep our crossings open, safe and moving quickly,” said Senator Schumer in a prepared statement released following the meeting. “Improving commercial and passenger travel across the Peace Bridge has been one of my highest priorities for Buffalo and Western New York, which is why I plugged pre-clearance to DHS Nominee Mayorkas. Fixing congestion at our Northern Border will enhance safety in Western New York and boost the regional economy. Implementing pre-clearance at the Peace Bridge is one of the key issues I will work on with the incoming administration.”
A pre-clearance operation was explored previously in a pilot program. Craig Turner, executive director of the Buffalo Niagara International Trade Gateway Organization, says one of the sticking points with a Canadian-based pre-clearance facility is sovereignty. While the issue of U.S. Customs workers conducting their jobs on Canadian soil may be tricky, given different rules on opposite sides of the border, technology helps smooth the pre-clearance process.
"As you look at the technology, and what can you actually accomplish on the Canadian side using the technology, how can you identify the driver, the freight, scan everything, so that by the time the truck actually does get to the US side, the paperwork is done,” he said. “The CBP officers know the information they need to know, and they can speed that along."
While casual and tourist cross-border travel has been stopped since the spring, commercial traffic has been allowed to continue crossing to and from Canada during the pandemic. Turner tells WBFO being able to keep the supply chain moving kept the local economy from sinking lower. But the health crisis also taught many companies a valuable lesson. He explained that business was booming, pre-COVID, but before the pandemic arrived many companies didn't have an alternate plan in place for disasters.
"I think that's the most important thing that that came up in the early part of this year, companies dealing with the supply chain, really looking at how expansive their supply chains are, and how can they bring things closer to home," he said.
