Mode 4 plus: international economic migration reform through the lens of cosmopolitan law

This paper examines the inadequacies of Mode 4 under the General Agreementon Trade in Services (GATS) in addressing the complexities of international economicmigration. While Mode 4 provides a framework for the temporary movement of serviceproviders, its limited scope and fragmented application fail to meet the needs of globallabor markets. Drawing on historical contexts and the theoretical lens of ImmanuelKant’s cosmopolitan law, the paper highlights the challenges of skill biases, regulatoryambiguities, and the disconnect between trade and migration policies. The studycritiques the reliance on bilateral agreements and fragmented governance, arguing fora “Mode 4 Plus” framework that expands beyond the WTO’s limitations. Proposalsinclude standardized visa policies, mutual recognition of skills, worker protections, anda digital governance platform to streamline labor mobility. A reimagined frameworkaims to balance state sovereignty with the demands of an interconnected globaleconomy, offering a more inclusive and sustainable approach to economic migration.