Scrutinising WTO compatibility of US immigration Bill: Khurshid

Foreign Minister says the matter can only be taken up before the WTO Disputes Settlement body once the Senate Bill becomes law

Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid on Wednesday told the Lok Sabha in a statement the Centre was examining whether the proposed US immigration Bill was compatible under World Trade Organization (WTO) norms, hinting at the possibility of taking up the matter at the organisation’s disputes settlement body.

“The government is examining the Senate Bill with regard to its WTO compatibility. However, the matter can only be taken up before the WTO disputes settlement body once the Senate Bill becomes law,” Khurshid said.

He also said while the proposed Bill would not affect Indian students planning for higher studies in that country, the Indian information technology firms had raised some concerns over some provisions related to “skilled non-immigrant visas. If brought into force, those provisions may place more onerous requirements on H1-B and L-1 visa dependent firms, including higher wages, enhanced audit by US agencies, non-displacement guarantee/additional recruitment notice requirements and higher visa fees.”