Senator Grassley. And the answer is yes. I can assure you that we are not negotiating anything in TPP that would require any modifications of the U.S. immigration laws or system. any changes of our existing visa system. and in fact the TPP explicitly states that it will not require any changes in any partys immigration law or procedures. Now the 11 other TPP countries are making offers to each other in the area of temporary entry. but we have decided not to do so. So I appreciate the opportunity to clarify that. So we have decided not to do sonow. at this moment. before the trade agreement is up for approval by Congress. knowing it would be controversial if the implementing bill included immigration changes. But that does not mean we are not party to any immigration provisions in the TPP that could be used to make changes later. One of the chapters in the agreement deals with immigration and temporary entry. I do not see anything that would prohibit the current administration or a new administration from trying to use this trade agreement to advance an immigration agenda. So if the Trade Representative really means it when he assures us there will be no changes in the future. then I would suggest my amendment would be something that Ambassador Froman would be delighted to support to keep us from having this problem and to remove this potential controversy from the legislation. I think it would alsofor those who want to see it passedenhance the opportunity to pass the legislation.
Keywords matched
visa immigration