New Delhi, Oct. 10 -- The US decision to suspend eight technology companies, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro, from a programme used to sponsor foreign workers for green cards signals a more protectionist approach towards foreign technology professionals, with potential implications for India's IT exports, think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said on Friday.

The think tank noted that Indian IT firms should prepare for possible restrictions extending beyond green card sponsorship to H-1B hiring, skilled worker mobility and outsourcing. The US accounts for 54.1 per cent of India's software and IT-enabled services exports, making it the country's largest market for these services.

GTRI Founder Ajay...