CAUT | ACPPU
Canadian Association of University Teachers
Issues & Campaigns
GATS & Global Trade Campaign
Today's international trade agreements are about more than the simple exchange of goods between countries. Trade deals now include complex rules on investment, intellectual property, domestic regulations, and services — including educational services.
Negotiations now taking place through the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) could have a serious impact on the shape of post-secondary education in Canada. The GATS and the FTAA are sweeping in scope and put at risk virtually all government measures. Consequently, these agreements are inherently hostile to public services like education.
Where we stand
CAUT has taken the lead in monitoring ongoing trade negotiations and lobbying the federal government not to make or seek any commitments on education services. CAUT is also working with partners in Canada and internationally to develop practical alternatives to current trade agreements. We believe no country can or should remain isolated from the global economy. But this does not mean that the current approach to globalization — one in which education is viewed simply as a commodity like any other — is the only or best form of global cooperation.
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