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CHEA and ACE LetterComments About Inclusion of Higher Education Service in Pending World Trade Organization NegotiationsJune 20, 2001 Mr. Joseph Papovich Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Services, Investment and Intellectual Property Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 600 17th St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20508 Dear Mr. Papovich: Thank you very much for taking time to meet with representatives of the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to discuss the U.S. position regarding inclusion of higher education service in pending World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. The meeting was very useful, and we hope it gave you an appreciation of the three unique features characterizing the higher education sector in the United States: (1) a large mix of public and private institutions, including a large non-profit sector; (2) institutional autonomy; and (3) decentralized governance. At this juncture, we want to reiterate our serious reservations about the possible inclusion of higher education under the higher (tertiary) education services sector of the GATS. We do not believe the proposal reflects what would be in the best interests of U.S. colleges and universities or of the country as a whole. In addition, given the fundamental differences between the higher education sector in the United States and the rest of the world, ACE and CHEA doubt the ability of WTO members to fashion a common set of rules governing trade in higher education services that avoids undermining those features of the U.S. system that have contributed to its great strength and international appeal. Is GATS an appropriate mechanism to foster international trade in education services? The question of whether and to what extent such services should be covered in GATS is a complicated one that implicates a host of sensitive issues for higher education. These include a number of areas we touched on when we met with you:
Again, thank you for taking the time to discuss a subject that is so important to our members. We wish to work closely with USTR as you continue to formulate the government's policy concerning this aspect of the service negotiations. We would also like to include you in several upcoming ACE and CHEA events and will be contacting your office shortly with details. We look forward to continuing to work with you on these issues. Sincerely, |
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Stanley O. Ikenberry |
Judith
S. Eaton President, Council for Higher Education Accreditation |
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| Send comments and suggestions to chea@chea.org Last Modified: August 26, 2001 |
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