The White Home Coronavirus Activity Drive helps restore inbound journey from Brazil, the UK and Europe

President Donald Trump speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Friday, November 13, 2020.

Evan Vucci | AP

The White House Coronavirus Task Force has recommended President Donald Trump that the United States begin admitting travelers from Brazil, the United Kingdom and the 27 countries of the European Union, according to two officials involved in the discussions.

If Trump approves the proposal for a directive, it would reverse entry bans on U.S. allies that were in place at the start of the pandemic as the virus rose overseas. Travel from China and Iran, two of the earliest hotspots for the virus that restricted travel in January and February, would not be eased, according to these officials.

The task force disagreed on its recommendation, which was sent to the president before Thanksgiving. According to the sources, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly disapproved of reopening travel as reckless, especially as the agency’s leadership signaled to the American public that domestic vacation travel was unsafe.

The proposed policy would not guarantee entry to the same countries for US travelers and would upset some of Trump’s advisors who argue that it violates the government’s “America First” mantra. However, significant disagreements persist between nations and blocs over what protocols are needed to keep transmission of the virus at bay, and the two officials who spoke with CNBC said there may be disagreements between the outbound and inbound administrations could give, which further complicates the negotiations.

In the U.S., the task force agreed that local authorities – such as individual airports, governors, and mayors – would be responsible for the testing and quarantine protocol international travelers would need after they land in order to avoid the creation of a surviving federal regulatory regime Pandemic.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on where the political process stands and when Trump might put it into action. The two sources involved in the discussion said that if approved, they would be announced before Trump leaves office, but the growing virus as a holiday approach would challenge any announcement until then.

Reuters initially reported on the lifting of travel restrictions. The Wall Street Journal reported in October that officials were discussing a limited opening of the travel corridor between New York and London, which should go into effect before the holidays.