Higher education and GATS: regulatory consequences and stakeholders' responses

The dream of all proponents of world trade without barriers came much closer to its fulfillment when the World Trade Organization (WTO) was finally brought into existence in Marrakech, Morocco, as a result of the `Uruguay Round¿1 of multilateral trade negotiations between national governments, taking place from 1986 till 1994. The WTO agreement was signed on 15 April 1994 and entered into force on 1 January 1995. Together with the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT), existing since 1947 and dealing with goods, two more agreements are now administered by the WTO: the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). As a result of the Uruguay Round a range of service sectors were selected for further liberalization including educational services. The main objective of GATS remains the same as it has been for GATT - progressive liberalization should be achieved through subsequent rounds of negotiations. During these negotiations the WTO member states are expected to take on various levels of obligations to reduce barriers in respective service sectors.