What Canada’s Upcoming Trade Talks Mean For Foreign Workers?

What does Canada’s upcoming trade talks mean for foreign workers? Well, foreign workers and businesspeople from several countries may soon find it easier to enter Canada due to upcoming trade talks.

If the trade talks are successful (and depending on the final terms of each agreement), the Canadian government has said it may make it easier for businesspeople to enter Canada temporarily from the following countries and regions:

India
Thailand
United Arab Emirates
The Mercosur countries:
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Paraguay
Uruguay

The Government of Canada has also repeatedly said it wants to reduce barriers that make it harder for professionals from these countries to get temporary work authorization. These barriers include labour market tests and limits on the number of workers.

Public consultations for all four trade talks ended on January 27, 2026.

What This Could Mean For Foreign Nationals Seeking Work In Canada?

Based only on the topics listed in the consultation documents, the main areas of possible change include:

Easier Temporary Entry For Business Purposes

The consultations strongly focus on the “temporary entry of business persons.” This includes entry for business activities, investment, or work.

If Canada moves forward with changes in this area, the people most likely to benefit will be those who fall under the final definition of “business persons” and who plan to come to Canada for short-term work-related reasons.

Canada already allows some businesspeople to enter temporarily under certain rules and categories. These trade talks could expand or simplify those options.

Reducing Barriers To Work Authorization

Thailand’s consultation document is the most direct. It clearly mentions problems with getting work permits on a temporary basis.

All four consultations highlight two main barriers:

Labour market or economic needs tests
Numerical limits or quotas

If Canada and its partner countries decide to address these issues, it could lead to fewer or more predictable labour market tests and fewer limits on temporary workers in certain categories.

One major barrier that may be discussed is the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This assessment is often required before a foreign worker can be hired in Canada. Many existing trade agreements already include LMIA exemptions, and future agreements may expand these exemptions.

No Guarantees Yet, Only Discussions

The consultation documents do not promise any specific changes. Instead, they list areas where the government wants public feedback.

For example, the documents state:

“The following are examples of areas where the Government would appreciate receiving views from Canadians.”

This shows that while Canada is considering changes to worker mobility, the final outcomes will depend on negotiations and public input.

What Makes Each Consultation Different?

Thailand — Canada–Thailand FTA Talks (most direct focus on work permits)

Thailand’s consultation is the clearest when it comes to work authorization. It directly links temporary entry with the challenges of getting a work permit and highlights two-way movement between Canada and Thailand:

“Temporary entry of businesspersons from Canada into Thailand and from Thailand into Canada, including impediments to obtaining a work permit to work in the other market on a temporary basis, such as the application of economic needs tests or numerical restrictions.”

This wording clearly points to work permits and the barriers that affect them.

The consultation also notes that leaders have already agreed to begin negotiations:

“On October 30, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Prime Minister of Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul agreed to launch negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement.”

This shows that talks are already moving forward.

India — Potential Canada–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

India’s consultation uses broader language. It talks about entries for business activities, investment, or work. It also asks which sectors could benefit most from better mobility.

The “temporary entry” section states:

“Interests related to the temporary entry of business persons for the purpose of business activities, investment, or work, including economic sectors or activities where improved mobility could support trade and investment, and barriers that make this movement more difficult, such as labour market or economic needs tests, numerical restrictions (e.g., quotas or proportionality requirements), or other limitations.”

Unlike Thailand’s document, India’s consultation focuses more on identifying key industries and types of work that could benefit from easier movement. It also mentions additional limits, such as proportionality requirements.

United Arab Emirates — Potential Canada–UAE CEPA

The UAE consultation uses almost the same language as India’s. It also focuses on business-related travel and work, and it asks for input on barriers such as labour market tests and quotas:

What makes the UAE consultation different is that it also includes a second track. It asks for Canadian views on the UAE’s request to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

“On August 22, 2025, the UAE formally submitted a request for accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).”

“Submissions from these consultations will also inform Canada’s approach with respect to any potential consideration or engagement with the UAE concerning CPTPP accession.”

The CPTPP is a trade agreement between Canada and several Indo-Pacific countries, including Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The consultation also says that talks for a bilateral CEPA are expected to begin in 2026.

Mercosur — Restarting Canada–Mercosur FTA Talks (group negotiation plus Uruguay CPTPP track)

Mercosur is different because it involves a group of countries and a restart of earlier talks.

The consultation uses the same general wording as India and the UAE for temporary entry:

“Interests related to the temporary entry of business persons for the purpose of business activities, investment, or work…” including “labour market or economic needs tests, numerical restrictions (e.g., quotas or proportionality requirements), or other limitations.”

Mercosur’s consultation also runs alongside Uruguay’s request to join the CPTPP:

“Canada will also be engaging in negotiations with Uruguay for a potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).”

This makes the situation more complex. Canada is not only restarting talks with the Mercosur bloc but is also preparing for Uruguay’s possible CPTPP membership. This could influence how worker mobility is handled in future agreements.

What Does This Mean Overall?

Canada is clearly looking at ways to improve temporary worker mobility through new trade agreements. These talks focus on making it easier for businesspeople and professionals to enter Canada for short-term work, investment, or business activities.

However, none of these changes are guaranteed yet. The consultations show that the government is gathering input and exploring options, not confirming outcomes.

If these agreements move forward with mobility improvements, workers from India, Thailand, the UAE, and Mercosur countries could see:

Easier access to temporary work permits
Fewer labour market tests
Reduced limits or quotas
More LMIA exemptions

For now, these are possibilities, not promises. The final results will depend on how negotiations unfold and what terms Canada and its partners agree on.

Foreign workers and businesspeople should continue to monitor updates on these trade talks, as they could shape future work opportunities in Canada.

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