Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Responding to the global pandemic, the U.S. and Mexico have agreed to prohibit all ‘non-essential’ travel across their shared border, as part of efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus. The restrictions will go into effect on Saturday.
According to Mexico’s Foreign Secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, border crossings will only be restricted for tourist and recreational travel, business, commercial and trade activities will not be not disrupted.
He clarified that “essential” workers will be allowed travel to and from their jobs, and the border will continue to be open for business and bilateral trade.
In this sense, Ebrard explained that the governments of the United States and Mexico have compiled a list of essential activities that will not be affected by the measures, which includes workers, transportation of goods and other commercial logistics.
“The U.S.-Mexico travel restrictions will be similar to those put in place earlier this week along the U.S. and Canadian border,” he said. “Keeping trade flowing, as the U.S. and Canada agreed to do, will help contain the economic damage caused by the pandemic.”
Mexico is the U.S.’s largest trading partner, just ahead of Canada. The U.S. accounts for about 75% of Mexican exports, including autos, computers and medical devices.