Mode 4 in GATTS agreements to think about
Much has been written on the foundering and significance of the Doha rounds of talks, and how the agricultural policies of nations was the stumbling block. However, notice Mode 4.
Center for Policy Reseach and Mode 4
India proposed a policy of treating trade services as commodiities, not people, and the US team agreed. Hence the normal procedures of a guest program for workers of many types we are accustomed to could have been challenged in closed WTO arbitrage proceedings.
This is one area that should not slip by. The commoditization of people for guest workers needs careful consideration for intended results (perhaps unintended for most of us regular folk). Anyway, it could have cut a swath across our immigration discussions with nary a peep. Does anyone know more?