According to a draft of the European Union (EU) on the list of citizens of countries allowed to enter the bloc after reopening on July 1, Americans, Brazilians and Russians, may be prevented from entering the area.
European countries are discussing two potential lists that can be accepted into the bloc after reopening their economies and borders, based on how countries respond to Covid-19.
Travelers at Adolfo Suarez-Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain, June 21.
The intention to ban Americans from entering the EU also partly reflects the evolution of the epidemic.
In late May and early June, Mr. Trump said Europe was making progress in responding to Covid-19 and some restrictions could be lifted, but since then, the Trump administration has not made any new moves.
However, banning American tourists from the EU could have significant economic, cultural and geopolitical effects.
EU officials added the US could still be added to the list, which is revised every two weeks, based on updated infection rates.
Free travel and trade between EU members is a core principle of the bloc, but the principle has also been seriously affected since the outbreak of the epidemic.
After EU diplomats agree, the final list will be released before July 1.
The reason given is that if internal borders are open but member states do not comply with the rules, visitors from countries not approved to the bloc can still arrive in a European country, then leave.
More than 210 countries and territories have had Covid-19 after the epidemic started in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, causing nearly 9.4 million infections and nearly 480,000 deaths.
Mai Lam (According to NYTimes)
Hannah