Land borders with Canada and Mexico will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least July 21, the United States' Homeland Security Department says.
The 30-day extension to existing travel restrictions came after Canada announced its own extension on Friday of requirements that have been in place since March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The US government held working-group meetings with Canada and Mexico on the travel restrictions last week and plans to hold further discussion about every two weeks, officials said.
Homeland Security said in a statement it noted "positive developments in recent weeks and is participating with other US agencies in the White House's expert working groups with Canada and Mexico to identify the conditions under which restrictions may be eased safely and sustainably".
Some US politicians and border communities hit hard by the restrictions have pushed to relax them ahead of the busy summer travel season.
Canada is also under pressure from companies and the tourism industry to ease the ban, which was imposed to help contain the spread of the coronavirus and has been renewed on a monthly basis since March 2020.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood firm, saying last week the border would stay largely shut until 75 per cent of Canadians had received the first of a two-dose coronavirus vaccine and 20 per cent had been given both shots.
In talks between the United States and Canada last week, the US government did not endorse setting a specific threshold to trigger lifting the restrictions, a person briefed on the talks said.
"The inability of the US and Canadian governments to reach an agreement on alleviating border restrictions ... is simply unacceptable," Democratic Brian Higgins and Republican Bill Huizenga, co-chairs of the Canada-US Interparliamentary Group said on Friday.
The United States is also holding working-group meetings on relaxing travel bans with the UK and the European Union, but US and airline officials have previously cast doubt on the Biden administration easing restrictions until around July 4 at the earliest.
Australian Associated Press
