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This article argues that to increase their chances of success to achieve mode 4 liberalization in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations, developing countries should focus on sectors where industrial countries face labour shortages. This approach would enhance the political feasibility of such commitments by industrialized country governments. This article draws lessons from the Canadian experiences with temporary foreign workers in the agricultural and construction industries that are both sectors with labour availability problems. It highlights the importance of an institutional framework to manage the temporary movement of workers.