CANADA AND U.S.A REACH TRADE DEAL - NAFTA REPLACES TO BE KNOWN - USMCA

Canada, the United States and Mexico have reached an agreement on a new and modern trade agreement called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This outcome will reinforce the strong economic ties between the three countries and support well-paying middle-class jobs for Canadians.

Under the new deal, the chapter that deals with temporary entry for business persons and professionals, Chapter 16, remains essentially unchanged from the original NAFTA text.

In Canada’s case, Chapter 16 lets businesses here hire skilled American and Mexican workers in more than 60 professional categories on temporary work permits that are valid for up to three years and can be renewed an unlimited number of times.

Labour mobility provisions under USMCA will continue to exempt Canadian employers from otherwise stringent immigration formalities for skilled professionals entering Canada who would normally require a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). 

The same rules apply to Canadians who are hired by employers in the United States and Mexico under Chapter 16.