WASHINGTON, (April 15, 2005) — U.S. President George W. Bush has ordered a review of his own administration’s recently announced rule requiring Canadians, Americans, and Mexicans to show U.S. Customs a passport upon entering the States.

The U.S. Homeland Security department rules would restrict Canadian travellers from entering the U.S. without a passport after Dec. 31, 2006. Truck drivers would be required to comply with the rule beginning Jan. 1, 2008, although FAST cards would also be accepted.

Speaking to the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Bush said: “When I first read that in the newspaper about the need to have passports, particularly the day-crossings that take place … I said, ‘What’s going on here?

“I thought there was a better way to expedite the legal flow of traffic and people.”

It wasn’t clear whether Bush was referring to easing the rule for travelers, truck drivers, or both.

— with files from the Associate Press