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posted by JC at MW
Inside U.S. Trade
An Inside Washington Publication
An exclusive weekly report on major government and industry trade action
Vol. 22, No. 35 - August 27, 2004
U.S., ANTIGUA SEEK MORE TIME TO SETTLE WTO GAMBLING DISPUTE
The World Trade Organization last week agreed to a joint request from the U.S. and Antigua and Barbuda to extend the deadline for the two countries to strike a deal that would end proceedings on a WTO challenge Antigua launched against the U.S. over a ban that prohibits Antiguan based firms from providing online gambling services to U.S. based customers.
On August 20, the chairman of the panel hearing the case announced that the panel had agreed to the joint request to suspend proceedings for an additional 28 working days. As a result, the U.S. and Antigua now have until October 4 to hammer out an agreement.
In June, the panel agreed to a request from both countries to suspend proceedings until August 23. However, on Aug. 16 both countries asked the panel to extend that deadline.
A U.S. trade official declined to comment on the reason for the extension, saying only that the U.S. is pleased to continue the talks. Another trade diplomat declined to characterize how close negotiators are to working out a solution.
The diplomat did say that negotiators have yet to decide both on a date and venue for the next round of formal talks, but stressed that the negotiations are not confined to face-to-face meetings between officials.
U.S. and Antiguan officials last held formal talks in Washington on Aug. 23, the original deadline the two countries had set for reaching a deal, the trade diplomat said. At that meeting, the diplomat said U.S. officials from outside the U.S. Trade Representative?s Office, which has been spearheading the talks, were brought in.
Prior to the Aug. 23 meeting, negotiators also met in Washington on Aug. 10. It was at this meeting that negotiators decided it was necessary to expand the talks to include additional U.S. officials to aid efforts to strike a deal
A U.S.-Antigua agreement would end all proceedings in the WTO on the dispute and guarantee that an interim ruling issued in March is never made final or released to the public. That ruling found that the U.S. had constructed its Uruguay Round services schedule to allow the cross-border supply of gambling services, such as Antiguan based Internet casinos.
As a result, the panel ruled that the U.S. could not deny such service providers access to the U.S. market. The U.S. strongly rejected arguments that it had undertaken any commitments to allow the cross-border supply of gambling services, and insisted it would appeal the ruling.
Antigua has long argued that securing U.S. market access for Antiguan Internet gambling providers remains its primary goal in the talks with the U.S.
The fact that the U.S. has agreed to pursue a negotiated solution has led countries to believe that if the WTO were to ever formally adopt the ruling it could significantly impact the way countries are able to schedule services commitments in the Doha round.
posted by JC at MW
Inside U.S. Trade
An Inside Washington Publication
An exclusive weekly report on major government and industry trade action
Vol. 22, No. 35 - August 27, 2004
U.S., ANTIGUA SEEK MORE TIME TO SETTLE WTO GAMBLING DISPUTE
The World Trade Organization last week agreed to a joint request from the U.S. and Antigua and Barbuda to extend the deadline for the two countries to strike a deal that would end proceedings on a WTO challenge Antigua launched against the U.S. over a ban that prohibits Antiguan based firms from providing online gambling services to U.S. based customers.
On August 20, the chairman of the panel hearing the case announced that the panel had agreed to the joint request to suspend proceedings for an additional 28 working days. As a result, the U.S. and Antigua now have until October 4 to hammer out an agreement.
In June, the panel agreed to a request from both countries to suspend proceedings until August 23. However, on Aug. 16 both countries asked the panel to extend that deadline.
A U.S. trade official declined to comment on the reason for the extension, saying only that the U.S. is pleased to continue the talks. Another trade diplomat declined to characterize how close negotiators are to working out a solution.
The diplomat did say that negotiators have yet to decide both on a date and venue for the next round of formal talks, but stressed that the negotiations are not confined to face-to-face meetings between officials.
U.S. and Antiguan officials last held formal talks in Washington on Aug. 23, the original deadline the two countries had set for reaching a deal, the trade diplomat said. At that meeting, the diplomat said U.S. officials from outside the U.S. Trade Representative?s Office, which has been spearheading the talks, were brought in.
Prior to the Aug. 23 meeting, negotiators also met in Washington on Aug. 10. It was at this meeting that negotiators decided it was necessary to expand the talks to include additional U.S. officials to aid efforts to strike a deal
A U.S.-Antigua agreement would end all proceedings in the WTO on the dispute and guarantee that an interim ruling issued in March is never made final or released to the public. That ruling found that the U.S. had constructed its Uruguay Round services schedule to allow the cross-border supply of gambling services, such as Antiguan based Internet casinos.
As a result, the panel ruled that the U.S. could not deny such service providers access to the U.S. market. The U.S. strongly rejected arguments that it had undertaken any commitments to allow the cross-border supply of gambling services, and insisted it would appeal the ruling.
Antigua has long argued that securing U.S. market access for Antiguan Internet gambling providers remains its primary goal in the talks with the U.S.
The fact that the U.S. has agreed to pursue a negotiated solution has led countries to believe that if the WTO were to ever formally adopt the ruling it could significantly impact the way countries are able to schedule services commitments in the Doha round.
