Updated U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade agreement establishes NAFTA’s labor mobility rules

It will be a relief for immigration candidates to know that the rules associated with professional work visas will not be undergoing any new changes because of the new free trade deal that Canada has signed with Mexico and the United States. All three countries have sent their approval for the updates that were made to the agreement's original text. This means that the deal is now on its way to being ratified. As per this new agreement, Chapter 16 does not undergo any serious changes. The chapter is concerned with the temporary entry for professionals and business persons. It almost remains unchanged as compared to the original NAFTA or the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Chapter 16 grants permission to employers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to hire professional labor from any of the three countries without any restrictions. With reference to Canada, Chapter 16 allows Canadian businesses to skilled workers from the United States and Mexico in over 60 professional categories. The country can provide the workers with temporary work permits that remain valid for up to a period of three years. The permits are then eligible for renewal an unlimited number of times.

One of the primary benefits of Chapter 16 is that the employers who want to hire do not necessarily have to finish a Labour Market Impact Assessment or LMIA. Usually, it is required as proof that there is no Canadian available to fill the job position. These same rules are applicable to Canadian professionals who are covered by Chapter 16. They can be hired by employers from the United States and Mexico with minimum hassle.

It comes as a surprise to many that Chapter 16 emerged from the negotiations unscathed because of U.S. President Donald Trump's “Buy American, Hire American” policy.