[hedgetrimmer]

Under Mode 4 negotiations, which provides for movement of natural persons, India has been demanding that the bound rate for granting visas for professionals should be substantially increased.

To cite an example, under Mode 4, the US has bound itself to give up to 65,000 H1B visas for professionals from outside the country seeking employment. But Washington on its own has increased that number to 190,000 professionals in the face of growing demand in that country.

However, it still maintains the bound rate at 65,000 giving it a leverage to lower the number of such visas from 190,000.

India is pressing for the bound rate to be raised substantially from 65,000 so that movement of professionals becomes easier.

Do you really think the American people have any say in these "negotiations"? There is a clear loss of sovereignty here.

[JasonC]

Of course they go. Congress delegates some decisions to trade reps to give them leverage negotiating with other countries. But how much is entirely up to the Congress, which can change trade laws any way they please anytime they please. Including withdrawing from any treaty they don't like. Every time Congress freely choses a policy some protectionist doesn't like, protectionists pretend they don't have the decision. Wrong, you just didn't win a debate within the Congress.