General Agreement on Trade in Services

The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is a treaty of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This document has been criticized for allegedly replacing the authority of congresses, legislature, and parliaments, with the authority of the GATS Disputes Panel. Such allegations argue that GATS intends to override all "burdensome rules". The WTO and member governments disagree with such allegations. GATS hearings are closed and held in secret.