US Pre Clearance in Canada Faces Scrutiny Amid Tourism Decline

WASHINGTON- US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operates the Preclearance program, allowing U.S.-bound travelers to clear immigration and customs before boarding at select international airports.

Canada (YVR, YYZ, YUL, YYC) is the largest market for these Preclearance facilities, and also the United States’ biggest inbound tourism source. With Canadian visitor numbers falling this year, concerns over the program’s future have surfaced following recent remarks by a US official.

Photo: Customs and Border Protection

US Pre-Clearance Faces Scrutiny in Canada

At the Global Business Forum in Banff (YBA), United States Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra raised the issue of Preclearance, linking it to declining Canadian tourism to the US.

Hoekstra noted that the program comes at the expense of the US government and suggested that if “the numbers don’t work anymore,” adjustments might be necessary.

This statement prompted a sharp exchange with Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat. Robertson pointed out that Canada remains the United States’ largest tourism market and argued that ending Preclearance would harm both sides.

Hoekstra denied implying a shutdown but maintained that the US needs to reassess the arrangement given changing dynamics, OMAAT reported.

Photo: By Lasse Fuss – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18083424

How Preclearance Works and Who Pays

Preclearance facilities are staffed by US Customs and Border Protection officers, while Canada covers the cost of building the facilities and deploying its own security officials.

The system benefits travelers by reducing wait times on arrival in the US, especially at congested hubs like New York (JFK) and Chicago (ORD).

Hoekstra’s comments about the US carrying the cost are only partly accurate. The US funds its officers abroad, but infrastructure and operations on Canadian soil are a shared responsibility.

Canadian airports invest heavily to host Preclearance because it makes their airports more attractive for US-bound travelers.

Photo: Colin Cooke Photo | Wikimedia Commons

Tourism Decline and Rising Tensions

Tourism from Canada to the United States has dropped significantly in 2023. Factors include currency fluctuations, changing travel preferences, and political rhetoric.

The decline has raised concern in Washington, with Hoekstra’s remarks reflecting frustration that the financial and diplomatic balance of Pre-clearance may no longer be sustainable.

However, critics argue that using Pre-clearance as leverage is counterproductive. The facilities exist not just in Canada but also in smaller markets such as Dublin (DUB) and Nassau (NAS), where US-bound passenger volumes are far lower.

Threatening Canada—the largest source of inbound US tourism—appears inconsistent when compared with the continued operation of Preclearance elsewhere.

Photo-eGuide Travel | Flickr

A Strained Diplomatic Exchange

The discussion at Banff quickly turned tense. When Robertson suggested that eliminating Pre-clearance would undermine tourism and bilateral ties, Hoekstra pushed back, accusing him of misrepresenting his remarks.

The conversation escalated further when Robertson referenced US political statements about Canada, leading to a heated back-and-forth over whether both governments fully understand the state of their relationship.

Such public disputes highlight how sensitive Pre-clearance is as both a policy tool and a symbol of cooperation. The program was originally designed to strengthen cross-border travel, not to become a bargaining chip in political or economic disputes.

Photo: Air Canada

Bottom Line

The Preclearance program remains a cornerstone of US–Canada travel, easing entry for millions of passengers each year.

Ambassador Hoekstra’s comments have drawn attention to the costs and benefits of maintaining the facilities, especially against the backdrop of falling Canadian tourism.

While no formal steps toward closure have been announced, the exchange underscores the fragile balance between economic realities and diplomatic trust in managing cross-border travel.

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