Announced as part of an "interim final rule" open to public comment through 8 October, the charges include
a $10 fee established as part of the Travel Promotion Actof 2009 and a new $4 fee to "recover the costs incurred by U.S. Customs and Border Protection" in administering the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. European officials have
been at oddswith the United States regarding the ESTA program, which requires travelers from the 36 VWP countries to electronically obtain clearance before entering the United States. "These new requirements applicable only to travelers under the Visa Waiver Program are inconsistent with the commitment of the U.S. to facilitate transatlantic mobility and will be an additional onus for European citizens traveling to the U.S.," according to EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom.