immigration News Immigration Updates Team January 27, 2026

Canada explores new trade deals with mobility focus

The Government of Canada has concluded public consultations on potential free trade agreements with India, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the Mercosur bloc. The discussions are expected to inform how upcoming negotiations could affect temporary entry for businesspeople and professionals.

The consultations, which ended on January 27, 2026, sought feedback on labour mobility provisions that may feature in future trade agreements. Canada has indicated interest in easing temporary access for foreign business visitors as part of its broader trade and labour market strategy.

Officials have also highlighted the importance of aligning these agreements with domestic economic needs, including the potential to streamline work authorization processes for qualified foreign nationals.

Consultations concluded on January 27, 2026
Four trade negotiations under review: India, Thailand, UAE, and Mercosur
Focus on temporary entry for business and investment purposes
Barriers such as labour market tests and quotas identified for input
Negotiations could shape future mobility pathways for foreign professionals
Consultations remain exploratory, not binding commitments

Trade consultations and labour mobility

The Canadian government’s consultation documents highlight temporary entry of businesspersons as a recurring theme. This includes professionals entering Canada for business activities, investment projects, or short-term work assignments under future trade agreements.

Such provisions are already incorporated into several of Canada’s existing trade frameworks, including those offering Labour Market Impact Assessment exemptions for eligible foreign workers. The new consultations aim to identify where similar mechanisms could be extended to new partner countries.

Key areas under discussion

Temporary entry for business purposes

Each consultation paper identifies temporary entry as a central issue, focusing on facilitating cross-border business activity. This may cover categories such as intra-company transferees, investors, and independent professionals. The government’s request for input reflects a goal of understanding which sectors depend most on predictable mobility between Canada and partner markets.

Reducing administrative barriers

Stakeholders were asked to comment on obstacles that complicate temporary work authorization, such as economic needs tests or numerical restrictions. These barriers often determine whether a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required before a foreign national can work in Canada. The consultations suggest a possible interest in refining or harmonizing these processes with trade partners.

Consultations as exploratory process

The documents clarify that the listed topics are examples of areas where feedback was requested, not confirmed negotiation outcomes. The government maintains flexibility to adjust its stance based on public and stakeholder submissions.

Country-specific consultation details

Thailand

The Canada–Thailand consultation made the most direct reference to work permit challenges. It emphasized two-way mobility and cited barriers such as economic needs tests and numerical limits. On October 30, 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul officially agreed to launch free trade negotiations.

India

India’s proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) consultation adopted broader language, including temporary entry for business, investment, and work. The government invited input on which economic sectors could benefit most from enhanced mobility. It also mentioned proportionality requirements as an additional constraint affecting market access.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE consultation mirrored India’s structure and language, seeking feedback on business-related mobility barriers. It also included a secondary track related to the UAE’s formal request to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on August 22, 2025. Responses from this process will help guide Canada’s approach to both the bilateral CEPA and the CPTPP accession discussions.

Mercosur

The Mercosur consultation concerns the resumption of trade talks with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It maintains the same focus on temporary entry and mobility barriers as the India and UAE consultations. Additionally, Uruguay’s potential CPTPP accession process forms part of the broader negotiation context, which could influence how labour mobility terms are structured across partner countries.

Policy context and relevance

Canada’s approach to labour mobility in trade negotiations reflects its long-standing use of trade agreements to facilitate skilled worker entry. Existing agreements, including those with the European Union and the United States, already include LMIA-exempt provisions for certain categories of businesspersons.

At the provincial level, labour mobility intersecting with immigration programs—such as the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program—continues to complement federal frameworks. These programs support regional labour market needs that align with national trade and mobility priorities.

Next steps

Following the closure of consultations, the federal government will review public submissions before finalizing negotiation mandates for each partner country or bloc. The outcome of these reviews will shape Canada’s position when formal negotiations resume or begin.

While no policy changes have been announced, trade and immigration observers note that labour mobility remains a consistent feature of Canada’s trade policy agenda, particularly in sectors requiring cross-border expertise.

Ongoing monitoring

Developments from these trade negotiations will be monitored as Canada advances its international economic partnerships. Any resulting agreements could influence future frameworks governing temporary entry and work authorization for business visitors and professionals.

Readers can explore additional coverage of Canadian immigration programs and trade-related mobility developments across federal and provincial levels.