Marjorie Griffin Cohen writes that at the end of February 2000 a new round of World Trade Organisation negotiations began, focusing on trade in services. The WTO has identified a number of 'barriers' to free trade in education services which it aims to eliminate. These include the existence of government monopolies, restrictions on recruiting foreign teachers and substantial government subsidies for local institutions. Eliminating these 'barriers' would require substantial changes to the public higher education system, including a reduction in public funding and a requirement that it pursue 'commercial objectives'. These negotiations are proceeding with very little public scrutiny, leaving higher education in Australia vulnerable to external commercial pressures.