International Economics assisted the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries (MPFTIF) in creating a guide on the Temporary Movement of Business Persons provisions and developing tools for collecting and analysing related data.
The project was part of the Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development (EDM) program, funded by GAC and implemented by Cowater International.
As part of the Canada-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement signed in January 2025, provisions have been included to facilitate the Temporary Movement of Business Persons (TMBP) – such as business visitors, investors, intra-corporate transferees, professionals, and their spouses. These allow a specified number of eligible professionals to enter Canada without requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). To help Ecuador fully implement and benefit from these provisions, International Economics supported the MPFTIF in developing a practical guide and tools to collect and analyse related statistics. These resources will help service providers understand the procedures and documentation required for temporary entry and will support data collection and analysis related to business mobility under the agreement.
Alongside the TMBP provisions, the Canada-Ecuador FTA also commits both countries to collect and maintain data on temporary entries. This information is vital for monitoring the effectiveness, inclusivity, and sectoral impact of the TMBP provisions, and for informing future policy decisions. To fully realise the benefits of these provisions, our team developed a gender-sensitive guide to the TMBP provisions of the Canada-Ecuador FTA. This involved a detailed review and analysis of the Canada-Ecuador FTA’s chapter on TMBP and an in-depth review of Canada’s TMBP commitments and domestic regulations to identify opportunities, procedures, and challenges for Ecuadorian service providers. Additionally, our Team created gender-sensitive tools for the collection and analysis of statistical data related to temporary entries. To ensure the guide is practical and inclusive, we hosted a multi-stakeholder workshop involving government representatives, private sector actors, and civil society organizations. This session served to present the draft guide, gather feedback, and promote awareness of the TMBP provisions across key sectors.
With the rapid proliferation of trade agreements worldwide, there are new market and investment opportunities for countries to explore. At International Economics, based on our extensive experience in international trade, we assist our clients by providing a detailed analysis of the key impacts of new trade agreements on their operations and competitiveness through an assessment of tariff, and non-tariff barriers, provisions on rules of origin, customs efficiency, the effectiveness of transport networks, and sustainability provisions, among others.
We can help assess the opportunities in different markets, determine the feasibility and viability of projects, and benchmark the wider ecosystem to support business growth. We also support clients in navigating the policy landscape regarding international trade by establishing robust monitoring and evaluation framework through sophisticated real-time dashboards and reporting systems to ensure the best outcomes.
