The North American Free Trade Agreement

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is an arrangement between the US, Mexico, and Canada.

This agreement was officially established in 1994 and has delineated and delimited trade interactions (including investments) between these three countries.

Nowadays, despite the threat to public health caused by the arrival of the Coronavirus in the world, this agreement is being replaced for the first time after 26 years in force.

President Trump recently announced that as of July 1, 2020, NAFTA is replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Keep up to day with Immigration News. 

USMCA – Brief explanation

The new trade agreement between these countries has three main differences compared to NAFTA.

1. Vehicle manufacturing

With NAFTA, local vehicle production in the US was close to 62.5% annually. With the implementation of the USMCA, President Trump expects the US to produce at least 75% of the country’s cars.

2. The new digital rules

With Nafta, digital exchange was not included in the trade agreement. Now, with the USMCA, the three countries will also involve trade agreements for digital production and technological intellectual property.

3. The dairy industry

With NAFTA, the Canadian dairy industry was protected from international competition. Currently, with the USMCA, the US has more rights to access the dairy industry in these three countries.

How does the USMCA affect immigration?

The new trade agreement between the US, Mexico, and Canada greatly favors the citizens of these three nations.

It is well known that the restrictions implemented in the immigration sector by President Donald Trump have increased considerably during the health crisis caused by the Coronavirus.

In fact, foreign workers are not allowed to enter the US for the remainder of the year. It is the same situation for Green Card applications.

However, with the USMCA, citizens of Mexico and Canada can enter the US with a legal work permit. This is a very great benefit for the three countries that have always had a strong bond of economic interaction and trade.

On the website of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), there is a section dedicated to workers who are part of the USMCA agreement and if you meet the eligibility requirements, you might apply for a temporary work permit.

Essentially, during the current juncture, it is best to be cautious with immigration applications, whether it be family immigration, business immigration, immigration appeal, a deportation case, inter alia.

Therefore, we recommend for you to seek specialized help and avoid risking your immigration case only for not having expert guidance from immigration attorneys.

In addition to that, it is important to understand that current restrictions on work visas could complicate your business immigration process. However, if you have the constant accompaniment of experts, they will guide you to find the solution that best suits your needs.

We are here to help you!

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.