Barriers in Education

The Center for Quality Assurance in International Education submitted a report to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in response to the April 14, 1999 Federal Register notice requesting public comment regarding negotiations on Market Access and Other Issues in the World Trade Organization (WTO) on barriers to trade in education. This report outlines a variety of barriers to trade in education experienced by U.S. providers.

The barriers identified in this report are summarized in a table below or downloaded as an Adobe Acrobat file.

National Legislation & Policy

1.        Prevents foreign ed. & training providers from obtaining national licenses

2.        Needs Tests

3.        Recognize higher education as a product of the state and not a proprietary function

Exs: Greece, Spain, Singapore & Indonesia, Israel, Turkey

Ex: Japan (Temple Document)

Qualifications Authorities

Students have difficulties in translating degrees from foreign universities into national equivalents

Ex: Japan (Temple Document)

Customs Regulations

Limits the movement of educational materials across borders

Ex: Medical & health related materials showing naked human body; Russia & Hungary (videos)

Telecom Laws

Restricting the use of national satellites and receiving dishes

Ex: Mexico

Movement of Persons

Difficulty in obtaining visas (teachers, students, administrative staff)

Exs: Greece, Denmark, Singapore

Foreign Currency Controls

1.        Measures limiting foreign direct investment

2.        Minimum requirements for capital investment by wholly owned foreign firms

Additional taxes on revenues

Ex: Ghana $200,000/$10,000

Ex: Korea 25% if not incorporated under Korean law

Limitations on foreign ownership

Limits ability of foreign providers to control off-shore activities

Exs: Mexico & Thailand (49%)

Disregard for International Agreements

Concerning intellectual property rights (educational materials)

Exs: Southeast Asian nations

You may download the barriers chart here.

If you can identify additional barriers or examples, please e-mail us at cqaie@cqaie.org.

National Legislation & Policy	1. Prevents foreign ed. & training providers from obtaining national licenses 2. Needs Tests 3. Recognize higher education as a product of the state and not a proprietary function	Exs: Greece, Spain, Singapore & Indonesia, Israel, Turkey Ex: Japan (Temple Document)
Qualifications Authorities	Students have difficulties in translating degrees from foreign universities into national equivalents	Ex: Japan (Temple Document)
Customs Regulations	Limits the movement of educational materials across borders	Ex: Medical & health related materials showing naked human body; Russia & Hungary (videos)
Telecom Laws	Restricting the use of national satellites and receiving dishes	Ex: Mexico
Movement of Persons	Difficulty in obtaining visas (teachers, students, administrative staff)	Exs: Greece, Denmark, Singapore
Foreign Currency Controls	1. Measures limiting foreign direct investment 2. Minimum requirements for capital investment by wholly owned foreign firms Additional taxes on revenues	Ex: Ghana $200,000/$10,000 Ex: Korea 25% if not incorporated under Korean law
Limitations on foreign ownership	Limits ability of foreign providers to control off-shore activities	Exs: Mexico & Thailand (49%)
Disregard for International Agreements	Concerning intellectual property rights (educational materials)	Exs: Southeast Asian nations