The United States has decided to modify its World Trade Organisation commitments
Thursday 10th May 2007
The United States has withdrawn from its World Trade Organisation commitments on online poker and online gambling, following its lost appeal against a decision in favour of Antigua and Barbuda over discriminatory practices towards foreign gambling firms.
In an attempt to reduce the matter to a simple misunderstanding US Trade Representative John Veroneau said, 'We did not intend and do not intend to have gambling as part of our services agreement. What we are doing is just clarifying our commitments.'
However, the matter is extremely complex with serious implications because all WTO treaties are agreed multilaterally, and negotiation with 149 other member countries will now have to begin. Wrapping this matter up as an oversight is a mistake, which implies that US negotiators do not read what they sign - clearly untrue. Some commentators have called that statement ‘disingenuous’.
Dr Errol Cort, Antigua's Minister for Finance and the Economy was quoted by Tax-News as saying. 'It is almost incomprehensible that the United States would take such an action in the face of an adverse dispute resolution ruling. This is going to have very severe consequences for the global free trade movement.'
The United States has withdrawn from its World Trade Organisation commitments on online poker and online gambling, following its lost appeal against a decision in favour of Antigua and Barbuda over discriminatory practices towards foreign gambling firms.