Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and John Hoeven (R-ND) and Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) Armstrong today announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agreed to temporarily expand operating hours at Maida, Northgate and Sherwood ports of entry (POE) in North Dakota. Pending agreement from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the hours of operation at these three POEs will be 9am to 7pm, 10 hours per day.
“While it’s encouraging to see the temporary expansion of hours at the Maida, Northgate, and Sherwood ports of entry, Customs and Border Protection’s work is far from over. Temporary won’t cut it and our neighbors to the north, Canada, must do the same. North Dakotans’ ability to conduct cross-border activity remains unnecessarily restricted as CBP refuses to return to pre-pandemic hours at our ports of entry. We will continue to push for the restoration of full operation hours at all ports of entry in North Dakota to accommodate lawful travel and trade with Canada, our close ally and largest trading partner. At a time when the U.S. economy is suffering from record high inflation, it is critical we remove obstacles to the legitimate flow of goods and services and alleviate the mounting strain on the supply chain. The President declared the pandemic over the other day, it’s past time to return to pre-pandemic hours at the northern border ports of entry in North Dakota,” said Senator Cramer.
“The limited hours of operation at our northern ports of entry have created real challenges for North Dakota’s residents and our economy,” said Senator Hoeven. “That’s why we’ve been working to get CBP to extend the operating hours at our state’s POEs, including through our letter to CBP Commissioner Magnus and in calls I held with CBP Executive Assistant Commissioner Flores. Today’s announcement is an important step. However, more needs to be done, and we will continue to press CBP and the CBSA to return to pre-pandemic levels of operation at our northern ports of entry.”
“It is important to many North Dakotans and our state’s economy that ports of entry with Canada are accessible. It is positive that CBP has reevaluated and will extend operating hours at these three crossings,” said Congressman Armstrong. “We need to build on this development by expanding access at additional ports of entry and encouraging CBSA to match them. We will continue working to expand trade and cooperation with our northern ally.”
Following pressure from the North Dakota congressional delegation, CBP is temporarily expanding hours at three high-priority POEs, including Maida, Northgate, and Sherwood, for 120 days. After 120 days, CBP will make a recommendation on “the path forward for these three locations.” The agency did not commit to opening other POEs in North Dakota.
Background:
In July, Senator Cramer led the North Dakota congressional delegation in calling on CBP to return the northern border ports of entry to pre-pandemic hours. North Dakota ports of entry continue to exercise reduced and restricted operating hours first introduced at the beginning of the pandemic over two years ago. Learn more here.