Canada, Australia and five other countries issued a joint statement saying they are committed to keeping trade lanes open and stressed the importance of refraining from imposing export controls during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trade should continue to “flow unimpeded” during the pandemic and should not hamper global air and sea ports, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Myanmar, New Zealand and Singapore said in a March 25 joint statement. “We recognise that it is in our mutual interest to ensure that trade lines remain open, including via air and sea freight, to facilitate the flow of goods including essential supplies,” the countries said.

Smith Bagley sought Lifeline changes tied to COVID-19. “Additional relief is needed given the worsening situation and the special challenges faced by low‐income populations, especially on Tribal lands,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 11-42. The FCC should make more support available “on a temporary basis for purchase of broadband‐capable devices and for additional data needed to access distance learning and other critical services,” the company said. It sought temporary suspension of requiring notification and de‐enrollment for nonusage of no‐charge Lifeline service of the one‐per‐household requirement.

Improving rural broadband access is critical to protecting and sustaining the national food supply, the FCC Precision Agriculture Task Force was told at Wednesday's online meeting. The COVID-19 pandemic will help the PATF identify "where we are strong and where we are weak" on connectivity, said group Vice Chair and Pioneer Communications CEO Catherine Moyer.

Smith Bagley sought Lifeline changes tied to COVID-19. “Additional relief is needed given the worsening situation and the special challenges faced by low‐income populations, especially on Tribal lands,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 11-42. The FCC should make more support available “on a temporary basis for purchase of broadband‐capable devices and for additional data needed to access distance learning and other critical services,” the company said. It sought temporary suspension of requiring notification and de‐enrollment for nonusage of no‐charge Lifeline service of the one‐per‐household requirement.

The FCC should clarify carriers can "sign and sue" when localities show imbalance of power in right-of-way franchise and permitting, CenturyLink said in comments posted through Tuesday in docket 20-46 as the Wireline Bureau reviews a petition from Bluebird Network and Uniti Leasing in a dispute with three Missouri cities (see 2003190056). Cameron, Maryville and St. Joseph said Bluebird sold assets and facilities on public land to a third party not lawfully authorized to do business in Missouri when the transaction was initiated. The petition "represents the proverbial tip of the iceberg" of ROW disputes, Incompas said: "For every dispute that makes it to the FCC," members "routinely encounter other delays and demands from municipalities that never see the light of day." Replies are due April 7.

All European Union member states should immediately designate “green lane border crossings” to allow all freight vehicles to pass within 15 minutes, the European Commission said March 23. The announcement, which said the lanes should be open to “all freight vehicles, whatever goods they are carrying,” comes as part of a guidance issued by the commission to keep freight moving across the EU during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance includes links to a communication from the commission to member states about green lanes, guidelines for health-related border measures and an overview of national measures by country.

The Cambodian-Vietnam border temporarily closed March 20 as both countries seek to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, according to a March 19 report from CustomsNews, the mouthpiece for Vietnam Customs. The closure blocks all air, water and land travel between the two countries in an attempt to “avert the inconvenience of quarantine” requirements, the notice said, but does not apply to Vietnamese and Cambodian holders of “diplomatic and official passports.” Cambodia has suggested the two countries work together “so transport of goods across the common border can be carried out without disruption.”

Tourism between the U.S. and Mexico is barred, beginning at 11:59 p.m. March 20, and continuing until April 20, but “this temporary alteration in land ports of entry operations should not interrupt legitimate trade between the two nations or disrupt critical supply chains that ensure food, fuel, medicine, and other critical materials reach individuals on both sides of the border,” the U.S. government said in a notice. Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade are specifically exempted from the restrictions.

CBP port operations remain unaffected by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with commercial traffic remaining steady and cargo flows near normal levels, CBP said on calls held March 19 and 20. But the agency does expect a slowdown in Detroit and Laredo, according to a summary of the March 19 call emailed by the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, and the number of trucks crossing the border in San Diego is down 2% to 5% over the past couple of days, CBP’s San Diego field office said on a call March 20.

Senate leaders looked ahead Wednesday to plans for a third funding package aimed at economic losses and a possible recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The chamber approved the House-passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act (HR-6201) on a 90-8 vote, sending it to President Donald Trump for signature. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., continued his push for any additional funding legislation to also address pandemic-related infrastructure issues, including broadband capacity and distance learning resources (see 2003170014).