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E.U. Threatens to Require Americans to Get Visas, Report Says

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European Union flags fly at half-staff outside the European Commission building in Brussels on March 23, 2016, a day after twin blasts hit the Belgian capital.
European Union flags fly at half-staff outside the European Commission building in Brussels on March 23, 2016, a day after twin blasts hit the Belgian capital.Patrik Stollarz—AFP/Getty Images
By Justin Worland

European Union officials may require U.S. and Canadian citizens to apply for visas before traveling to member states, according to a report.

The threat, reported by Reuters and attributed to anonymous sources, comes as the E.U. negotiates a trade agreement with the U.S. While most European citizens can enter the U.S. under a visa waiver program, U.S. officials have refused to lift visa requirements for citizens of some European countries including Romania, Bulgaria and Poland.

President Obama will travel to Europe this month and engage in ongoing discussion on a transatlantic trade agreement, known as TTIP. “A political debate and decision is obviously needed on such an important issue,” an E.U. source told Reuters. “But there is a real risk that the E.U. would move towards visas for the two.”

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Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com