Exclusive: White House considers lifting European travel restrictions -
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[November 25, 2020]
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House is
considering rescinding entry bans for most non-U.S. citizens who
recently were in Brazil, Britain, Ireland and 26 other European
countries, five U.S. and airline officials told Reuters.
The Trump administration imposed the bans in a bid to contain the novel
coronavirus pandemic. It is not considering lifting separate entry bans
on most non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in China or Iran, the
officials said.
The plan has won the backing of White House coronavirus task-force
members, public health and other federal agencies, the people briefed on
the matter said, but President Donald Trump has not made a final
decision and the timing remains uncertain.
The White House, Department of Homeland Security and Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) did not comment.
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Many administration officials argue the restrictions no longer make
sense given that most countries around the world are not subject to the
entry ban. They contend lifting the restrictions would be a boost to
struggling U.S. airlines, which have seen international travel fall by
70%, according to airline industry data.
Trump may still opt not to lift the restrictions, given the high number
of coronavirus infections in Europe. One potential hurdle is the fact
that European countries are not likely to immediately allow most
Americans to resume visits, officials said.
The European countries that are subject to the U.S. entry restrictions
include the 26 members of the Schengen area that allow travel across
open borders.
The U.S. restrictions barring most visitors from Europe have been in
place since mid-March, while the Brazilian entry ban was imposed in May.
Trump implemented the first ban on most non-U.S. visitors from China on
Jan. 31 and then added Iran in February.
The restrictions bar entry of most non-U.S. residents who have been in
those countries in the previous 14 days, but the U.S. State Department
has been granting some "national interest exceptions" to allow travelers
from Europe related to "humanitarian travel, public health response, and
national security."
The United States has also approved exceptions for some European
business travelers, investors, academics, students and journalists.
Nearly all of Europe still bans most U.S. travelers from visiting, while
Britain and Ireland allow American visits but require two-weeks
quarantine upon arrival. Brazil allows U.S. travelers.
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![](../images/112520pics/news_L23.jpg)
Travellers wearing protective face masks make a selfie inside at
Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy, after the U.S. banned
travel from Europe, as France grapples with the novel coronavirus,
March 12, 2020. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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On Saturday, the CDC issued new travel and testing recommendations
for international air travelers recommending they "get tested with a
viral test 1-3 days before their flight to reduce spread during
travel. Travelers should get tested 3-5 days after travel and stay
home for 7 days."
Airlines for America, a group representing American Airlines, Delta
Air Lines, United Airlines Holdings and others, on Tuesday noted it
has "been advocating for the federal government to set a national
standard on testing in order to lift travel restrictions."
In a statement to Reuters, the group called the CDC guidance a step
in the right direction, adding that they hoped it would be "followed
by a recognition that testing can be used to safely reopen borders
without quarantines."
Some airlines and officials think testing could be the key to widely
resuming international travel. The United States has held talks with
several countries about the possibility of passenger testing
programs between pairs of major cities.
Asked about the prospects of travel restrictions being lifted, a
U.S. Transportation Department spokesman said "the department stands
ready to support the safe resumption of international flights to and
from the U.S."
"Conversations are ongoing between the federal government,
international partners, and industry stakeholders on these matters."
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In September, the CDC ended enhanced screening of some international
passengers for the coronavirus and dropped requirements that
travelers coming from those countries arrive at 15 designated U.S.
airports that had been imposed at the start of the beginning of the
outbreak.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Robert Birsel)
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