The High Profile of Trade in Higher Education Services

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Proponents of free trade in higher education services present legitimate and convincing arguments to include higher education in major international trade agreements like the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Increasing access for American providers to foreign markets, providing services to willing education consumers abroad, and expanding educational opportunities in countries with less broadly developed systems of higher education are some of the perceived benefits of removing trade barriers to higher education providers. Indeed, free-trade supporters enjoy advocates in high places, including the U.S. Office of the Trade Representative (USTR), who promote such benefits of free trade for American higher education interests overseas. The protrade position, however, lacks a developed perspective on the implications of free trade for domestic higher education. A few informed representatives at national higher education associations have produced the only localized response from American higher education to the issue of including higher education in any trade agreements. Thus far, however, the issues raised locally have not led to a more broadly informed debate about the topic. It may be useful to present a “worst-case scenario” to showcase some of the ways in which trade liberalization could adversely impact American higher education through GATS and other international trade agreements.