| Posted by: jetset at April 24, 2008, 9:08 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister | | ANTIGUA MAY BE ABLE TO SQUEEZE MORE COMPENSATION IN WTO DISPUTE Legal representative hints that the $21 million a year already awarded could be increased The online gambling-rooted World Trade Organisation dispute with Antigua and Barbuda could turn out to be more expensive for the United States than is presently the case, says the islander's legal representative Mark Mendel in an interview with the Antigua Sun this week. The astute lawyer, who has guided Antigua to success through several years of complicated WTO litigation, has indicated that the decision by a World Trade Organisation arbitrator to limit Antigua and Barbuda’s claim against the US to US$21 million per year may not be final. Speaking during a visit to Antigua, Mendel said there is a process available through which the December 2007 arbitration decision might be reviewed. Though there is not an automatic appeals process for such decisions, Mendel revealed that the decision was thought to be so unjust that Antigua and Barbuda might be in a pos... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at April 8, 2008, 9:01 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister | | ANTIGUA VS. U.S. DISPUTE CONTINUES Antiguans set to reject late settlement offer from the US in WTO dispute It may have been offered after the World Trade Organisation deadline (see previous InfoPowa reports), but it appears that the United States has at last proposed a settlement in its protracted WTO dispute with the Antigua and Barbuda government. But it is apparently not good enough. The Antigua Sun newspaper is currently reporting that the Caribbean island government is soon to make a statement "...that a proposal for the resolution of the trade dispute received from the U.S. last week has not been met favourably." Apparently the American offer was discussed in Cabinet but not well received. Minister of Finance and the Economy Dr. Errol Cort told the newspaper that he had put a settlement proposal to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Susan Schwab when he met with her in January. Antigua and Barbuda had agreed to hold off on arbitration proceedings at the World Trade Organisation until the e... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at April 1, 2008, 10:08 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister | | USTR MISSES WTO DEADLINE AGAIN Online gambling dispute with Antigua and Barbuda rolls on As March faded into April this week it appeared that the US Trade Representative at the World Trade Organisation had once again missed a crucial deadline in its dispute with the government of Antigua and Barbuda over online gambling. The Antigua Sun newspaper, which has been diligently following the many twists and turns in this long-running saga, reported that no word on the issue had been received by the Caribbean islanders. Neither Antigua and Barbuda’s attorney in the matter Mark Mendel nor the local Directorate of Gaming had received any communication from US officials. In a process that has seen many delays and missed deadlines, the apparent failure of the US to put forward a settlement proposal by the end of the month was apparently met with an air of resignation in Antigua and Barbuda, with officials continuing to adopt a “wait and see” approach to the protracted negotiations process. The settlement proposal has ... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at March 31, 2008, 11:54 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister | | PRESSURE BUILDS ON USTR REGARDING WTO SETTLEMENT National security is not an acceptable response, say leading politicians The US Trade Representative at the World Trade Organisation was faced with some pointed questions on witholding information by two influential Congressmen this week. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Ron Paul, the ranking member of the House Sub-committee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology were following up on media reports that Susan C Schwab's office had declined to release details of a trade deal with the EU, Japan and Canada on grounds of "national security" when this information was requested by freelance journo Ed Brayton (see previous InfoPowa report) The settlement concerned compensation to the EU, Japan and Canada for the unilateral withdrawal by the USTR of American WTO obligations on gambling. In a letter dated March 14 to Schwab the two Congressmen not only requested details of the settlement, but a... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at March 26, 2008, 12:37 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister | | IS AN ANTIGUA VS. U.S. SETTLEMENT IN SIGHT ON WTO DISPUTE? Islanders' legal adviser says a response is due next week The 5 year World Trade Organisation dispute over online gambling between the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda and the United States may see a settlement offer from the Americans by Monday next week, says the islanders' legal counsel Mark Mendel. Speaking to the Antigua Sun newspaper this week, Mendel said the US is scheduled to put forward a proposal for the settlement of both aspects of the trade dispute by next Monday - and the islanders are taking a wait and see approach despite winning a possible exemption from trade marks and copyright restrictions as compensation from the WTO worth $21 million a year. “I am assuming that if they [the US trade Representative] are going to be good to their word, that they will have a proposal. It will be either a proposal or no proposal by the end of the month,” Mendel said. The lawyer revealed that despite the controversial US$21 million in ... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Mousey at March 24, 2008, 4:24 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister | | Perhaps Jetset can find more info for us... US Agrees Costa Rica Settlement 24-03-08 According to The Tico Times, the United States and Costa Rica have agreed a compensation package after The White House breached of World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations involving online gambling. The Costa Rican daily newspaper stated that the trade dispute began when the US enacted laws designed to target online gambling, forcing the Central American nation to take the giant from the north to arbitration before the WTO. Under a WTO agreement on services, any country blocking access to one of a range of markets must provide compensation to the affected countries. As compensation for cutting off Costa Rican access to online gambling customers in America, the US has agreed to offer greater access to other service markets including research and development, storage, technical testing and analysis. This is almost identical to the deal previously worked out between the US and Canada, Japan and the European Union over the sam... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: silcnlayc at March 19, 2008, 5:43 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister | | Antigua threatens to allow piracy Gov't hopes to settle trade dispute with US By WILLIAM TRIPLETTThe government of Antigua is likely to abrogate intellectual property treaties with the U.S. by the end of March and authorize wholesale copying of American movies, music and other "soft targets" if the Bush administration fails to respond to proposals for settling a trade dispute between the two counties, according to the lawyer representing the Caribbean island nation. The Motion Picture Assn. of America has been closely following the case with tremendous concern, an org official said, fearing that the copying could be extensively damaging and that -- worse -- a dangerous precedent could be set for other small countries angry at U.S. trade policy. "It is not our preferred option to punish the MPAA or others for the U.S. government's intransigence, but the U.S. has refused to negotiate fairly," said Mark E. Mendel, who represents Antigua. Goods and materials that would be copied include "... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at March 13, 2008, 8:44 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister | | U.S. CONGRESSMAN WANTS DETAILS ON THE WTO SETTLEMENT Oregon politician calls for support in demanding full details of America's concessions US politicians appear to be increasingly disturbed over the lack of detail on US deals with other World Trade Organisation members following its unilateral withdrawal of gambling from the original US WTO agreement. This week Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio requested that the US Trade Representative come clean on trade concessions made to foreign trading partners without Congressional approval. DeFazio's inquiry raises the possibility of Congressional intervention to void new market access commitments granted by the USTR to the European Union and other complainants as compensation for the much publicised United States trade violation at the WTO regarding Internet gambling (see previous InfoPowa reports). And Congressman DeFazio went further, communicating with other members of Congress this week and encouraging them to join him in calling for the USTR to provide a copy o... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Mousey at January 19, 2008, 1:37 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
I haven't seen any follow up on this...
Antigua and US to discuss Internet gambling dispute
Minister of Finance and the Economy Dr. Errol Cort
WASHINGTON D.C., United States, January 17, 2008 - Antigua and Barbuda's finance minister, Errol Cort is set to have talks with a United States Trade Representative today in an effort to bring resolution to the Internet gaming dispute between the two countries.
Cort left the island on Wednesday for today's meeting with the US official, Susan Schwab.
"We believe this matter can be settled in an amicable way because we enjoy an excellent relationship with the United States," he said.
"I am therefore hopeful (we can) come to some broad understanding in terms of settlement."
Antigua and Barbuda officials have already been given the go-ahead by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to target U.S. services, copyrights ...
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| Posted by: Rollo at January 4, 2008, 1:53 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
Quote:
So can anyone tell me.... What good is the WTO?
IMHO, none... and I hope it falls apart, personally. Back when they were contemplating the whole WTO thing, a lot of us were ery opposed to it... and still are. The main issue was the fear that the WTO would subjugate local liberties and national sovereignty to international corporate interests. I still feel that the WTO is a bad, bad thing. So, this situation is really a win-win from this perspective... either online gambling comes back or the WTO takes a hit... I hope.
It may be that other nations in the long run decide it's in everyone's best interests to pretend Antigua never happened.
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| Posted by: Mousey at January 1, 2008, 3:52 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
Even handed article on FOXnews.com (surprise!) written by Balko of Reason magazine. If this particular article has been referenced already, please forgive.
Internet Gambling Ban: Why You Should Oppose It
Early on in the article he discusses the weirdities of the WTO dispute and then goes into how this stupid gambling ban affects us all.
the final bits says:
Quote:
...
The other reason even non-gamblers ought to be concerned about all of this is that it will be difficult for the government to enforce this ban without giving law enforcement some exceptionally broad powers. Federal authorities can't arrest the owners of gaming sites because they're based offshore, in countries where gambling is legal (unless they're foolish enough to come to the U.S.). The only option, then, is to go after the gamblers themselves. That means deputizing banks, credit card companies, and Internet Service Providers to start monitoring their customers spending and web surfi... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: lots0 at December 28, 2007, 11:47 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
I think once this current US administration is out of power (sure seems like a lot of people are waiting for them to be gone) the US Trade Representative will be different and things will change... again.
I don't buy into all these gloom and doom scenarios. As soon as the music and software people start to realize what the US trade representative gave away the law suits are gonna start flying.
The US Trade Representative can not give away company A's products to protect company B's income and that is just what they have done.
Added: To Antigua, I think any song for 2 cents and any software for a nickel would be good pricing... LOL
The sooner you guys get going selling the super cheep and legal knockoffs, the sooner the US music and software companies are gonna start filing lawsuits...
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| Posted by: nielsenj at December 28, 2007, 10:50 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
I just read an interesting analysis of the WTO ruling on Casino City Times with the conslusion being that:
The only real loser in this deal is the online gambling industry. Without the threat of a significant WTO decision against the U.S., it's highly unlikely that Congress will pass any legislation to either repeal the UIGEA or create a regulated an environment for online gambling in the near future.
You can read the full article at: http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/...ntentID=170396
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| Posted by: jetset at December 25, 2007, 7:57 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
MUSIC INDUSTRY PAYS FOR U.S. ONLINE GAMBLING INTRANSIGENCE
WTO arbitration award adds little to trade body's credibility
Reaction to last week's World Trade Organisation decision to award $21 million in annual retaliatory measures to the Antiguan government in its online gambling dispute has gathered momentum over the weekend, with a prominent music industry publication roundly condemning the decision.
Music2dot0.com thoroughly examined the decision and its implications for the US music industry and was critical of the price that industry has to pay for US trade infringements in a totally unrelated field of international business, and the manner in which the US Trade Representative has manouevred in the long-running dispute.
Although the US has lost the case on principles, the retribution it has faced as a consquence has hardly been an effective deterrent, and the credibility of the WTO has not been enhanced by the affair.
Music 2.0 gives a detailed and... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at December 24, 2007, 8:18 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
ROW OVER ONLINE GAMBLING DEAL WITH U.S. GROWS
Did the US really make meaningful concessions to EU, Canadian and Japanese negotiators?
Last week's disappointing deal between the United States and three fellow World Trade Organisation nations seeking compensation in the wake of an online gambling dispute could be short-lived according to reports from the Brussels HQ of the EU reaching the Financial Times this week.
The FT reveals that high hopes that greeted the deal have been almost immediately dashed by a look at the small print, and major online gambling members of the Remote Gaming Association have already indicated their dismay and intention to pursue further satisfaction (see previous InfoPowa report)
The dispute arose when the US lost a WTO dispute with Antigua and Barbuda over discriminatory legislation on Internet gambling, and instead of moving to comply with WTO requirements, chose to take the unprecedented step of withdrawing all commitments regarding ga... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at December 22, 2007, 6:23 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
US urges Antigua to delay WTO sanctions on Internet gambling
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States Friday urged Antigua to hold off on imposing sanctions authorised by the WTO in a dispute over online gambling, saying Washington was revising its WTO commitments.
US Trade Representative (USTR) spokesman Sean Spicer advised Antigua to delay any action after an arbitrator for the Geneva-based World Trade Organization allowed the Caribbean nation to impose sanctions worth 21 million dollars a year.
Spicer said Washington has initiated a formal process at the WTO to revise its commitments and is in talks with Antigua and six other WTO members that have claimed to be affected.
"We would expect that Antigua would not suspend its WTO commitments to the United States while that process is underway.," Spicer said.
"Once the process of clarifying the US schedule of commitments is complete, any issues in our bilateral dispute with Antigua wi... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Mousey at December 22, 2007, 1:07 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
December 21, 2007
WTO Issues Decision On Internet Gambling Case
The World Trade Organization issued a decision today regarding Antigua and Barbuda's request to impose $3.4 billion in retaliatory measures against the United States for allegedly iolating its WTO commitments. The WTO said Antigua can use annual trade sanctions against the U.S. retroactive to April 2006 for the amount of $21 million until the U.S. reaches compliance with the WTO. The WTO also ruled that Antigua's sanctions may target U.S. intellectual property.
"Considering that Antigua and Barbuda were asking for over $3 billion in compensation, and they were only awarded a token $21 million, this decision is a partial ictory for the U.S.," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. "However, I remain concerned about how these countries could extract these sanctions from unrelated U.S. companies, like those in the intellectual property and banking industries."
"I will continue ... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at December 21, 2007, 6:00 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
WTO AWARD TO ANTIGUA FALLS WELL SHORT OF CLAIMS
$21 million a year in retaliation approved by global trade body
After years of negotiation and dispute over online gambling issues, and months of waiting for an outcome, the government of Antigua and Barbuda will likely be disappointed in the award of only $21 million a year in annual trade sanctions. The award was announced in Geneva today (Friday) by a World Trade Organisation arbitration panel following an Antigua claim for 3.4 billion, and a US response that it was worth only $500 000.
The two trading nations have been locked in a dispute over discriminatory online gambling practices which excluded Antigua from the lucrative American online gambling market. The tiny island nation successfully fought its giant adversary to a standstill, with WTO rulings going against the United States, leading to it withdrawing its gambling obligations from the international trade treaty rather than modify protectionist and discriminator... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at December 21, 2007, 5:34 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
It's better than the $500 000 the US Trade Representative offered....but well short of the $3.4 billion claimed.
WTO OKs $21 Million Of Antigua Sanctions On US On Internet Gambling
GENEVA (AP)--The U.S. faces $21 million in annual trade sanctions as a result of its online betting ban, the World Trade Organization said Friday in awarding Antigua and Barbuda the right to target U.S. services, copyrights and trademarks.
The decision is a setback for the Caribbean island nation, which sought the right to impose $3.4 billion in retaliatory measures against U.S. commercial services and intellectual property. Washington acknowledged its Internet gambling restrictions were ruled illegal by the WTO, but argued that Antigua should only be compensated for about $500,000 in annual lost revenue.
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| Posted by: lots0 at December 21, 2007, 4:50 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
Gambling companies urge EU probe U.S. prosecutions
Thu Dec 20, 5:57 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - European online gambling companies on Thursday accused the U.S. Justice Department of iolating World Trade Organization rules by singling out foreign online gambling companies for prosecution.
"We have been left with no choice but to pursue all legal avenues available to challenge the U.S. Department of Justice for its discriminatory enforcement activities against European online gaming operators," Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association (RGA), said in a statement.
The companies are unhappy with a deal the European Union struck this week with the United States on Internet gambling.
The EU agreed to let Washington withdraw a 13-year-old commitment to allow foreign firms to offer gambling services in exchange for U.S. trade concessions in other areas.
Washington said it never intended to allow foreign compan... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: dhayman at December 21, 2007, 12:12 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
Apologies in advance if this was already posted. A great read, leading up to tomorrow's 1 PM WTO Online Gambling decision:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/...g/bxgamble.php
Conference call debrief tomorrow is at:
TIME:
21st December 2007
1pm (Washington DC time)
6pm (London time)
CALL-IN NUMBER:
+1 (605) 475-4333
ACCESS CODE:
224598
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| Posted by: jetset at December 20, 2007, 3:22 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
Here's one for the books - the EU-US trade deal notwithstanding, European gambling firms are belatedly considering taking legal action against the DoJ!
EUROPEAN ONLINE GAMBLING IS NOT GIVING UP
Despite the EU - US deal, companies could press charges against US discrimination
With the disappointment of an unsatisfying World Trade Organisation compensation deal between the USA and EU still bitter, European online gambling groups are set to file a discrimination complaint against the Americans, reports he Times Online today (Thursday)
The companies say that the US Department of Justice has iolated international trade law by forcing them out of the US market and taking legal action while allowing domestic online gaming operators to continue trading.
The move by the Remote Gaming Association (RGA) comes only days after the European Union agreed a trade deal with the US to compensate the bloc for loss of earnings from gaming after the Americans with... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: lots0 at December 18, 2007, 9:25 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
Mon Dec 17, 12:49 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has reached a deal with the European Union, Japan and Canada to keep its Internet gambling market closed to foreign companies, but is continuing talks with India, Antigua and Barbuda, Macau and Costa Rica, U.S. trade officials said on Monday.
"We are pleased to confirm that the United States has reached agreement ... with Canada, the EU and Japan," Gretchen Hamel, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office, said in a statement several hours after the EU had announced details of the deal it had reached with Washington.
The decision is a disappointment for European online gambling companies who hoped a case brought by Antigua several years ago at the World Trade Organization gave them a foothold to get back in the U.S. market after being kicked out by Congress last year.
In an April 2005 ictory for Antigua, the WTO said a U.S. law allowing only domestic companies to provide horse-ra... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at December 18, 2007, 6:21 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
WTO AGREEMENTS LATEST
Deal includes Canada and Japan, claims US Trade Representative; Costa Rica, India and Macau hang in
Further news reports from Associated Press on the EU compensation deal with the United States over Internet gambling indicate that Canada and Japan have also folded their cards, although Costa Rica, Macau and India are holding on for a better deal. And there is still no news on the seperate Antigua issue.
The United States Trade Representative spokesperson said Monday it has agreed to maintain concessions for companies from the European Union, Canada and Japan who want to do business in the U.S. so it can preserve its Internet gambling ban that has been ruled illegal by the World Trade Organisation.
The 27-nation EU said earlier in the day it had received trade concessions in mail services and warehousing as well as U.S. market opportunities for European companies offering testing and analysis services.
But the office of the U.S.... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: lots0 at December 17, 2007, 7:22 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
I wondered why the US backed down on the Global warming thing. The Bush boy is not known for backing down (stupid as a rock he is).
I got a feeling it was all part of a big deal.
This really sucks for Americans... And for those gaming companies that lost money in the UK.
Looks like we all got sold down the river by the EU.
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| Posted by: jetset at December 17, 2007, 6:22 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
ONLINE GAMBLING FIRMS DISAPPOINTED IN EU - US DEAL
Concessions accepted in return for the US changing its trade obligations are unlikely to assist online gambling firms
European Union negotiators, probably in one of the strongest positions yet in the World Trade Organisation conflict with the United States, have accepted a disappointingly milk-and-water package that does little to compensate online gambling companies for the damage done by unilateral American trade decisions.
In early reaction to news of the deal, signed in Geneva, The Guardian newspaper described it as "....a savage blow to the EU online gambling industry."
Shares in companies such as Party Gaming and Bwin fell sharply after it emerged that they and their peers had failed to persuade the EU to challenge the US despite an intense lobbying campaign highlighting the contradictions in the American position.
EU spokesmen released a statement which said: "A bilateral agreement ... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at December 17, 2007, 5:18 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
That's pretty much what it amounts to - early reports are indicating that the EU officials are unable to put a price on the concessions they have accepted...and they have made some namby pamby statements about the EU continuing to persuade the Americans to liberalise their online gambling.
On the face of it, this stinks and the market is reacting in that light.
I wonder whether the Antiguans will show a little more determination in what they accept - that still seems to be on the table.
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| Posted by: Casinomeister at December 17, 2007, 5:14 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
Quote: Originally Posted by Simmo!
Er Or put another way, the EU has sacrificed the online gambling industry to appease other larger more influential companies in unrelated sectors. Correct? I still don't understand why politics has got itself such a bad name
Think you hit the nail on the head.
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| Posted by: Simmo! at December 17, 2007, 5:08 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
Er Or put another way, the EU has sacrificed the online gambling industry to appease other larger more influential companies in unrelated sectors. Correct? I still don't understand why politics has got itself such a bad name Granted, I'm sure those other markets are deemed of more benefit to more people, but that's more than a tad underhanded IMO. So it looks like the US still wields the power over the EU.
Still, on a positive note, at least it's clear now that they don't give a sh*t about the industry and it will save some people a lot of wasted time I guess. And I'm sure Antigua are well chuffed to know for sure they can't expect any support from the EU.
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| Posted by: jetset at December 17, 2007, 5:00 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
US, EU Agree on Compensation Over Online Gambling Ban
GENEVA (AP) - The United States will provide the European Union with new trade concessions in mail services and warehousing as part of a compensation deal over Washington's refusal to lift restrictions on Internet gambling, the European Union said Monday.
The agreement also includes new U.S. market opportunities for European companies offering testing and analysis services, as well as in research and development, Brussels said in a statement.
The postal and courier concessions will affect how Germany's DHL, the express and logistics division of Deutsche Post World Net AG, competes with U.S.-based companies FedEx Corp. and United Parcel Service Inc., EU officials said.
The overall trade aluation of the package is believed to fall far short of the $100 billion European online gambling sites had claimed the United States owed. EU officials could not immediately say how much the deal was worth.
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| Posted by: jetset at December 15, 2007, 8:00 am | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
DISAPPOINTING W.T.O. NEWS
Yet another delay in decision on trade dispute
The industry's hopes for positive news from the World Trade Organisation were dashed Friday when Reuters news service reported yet another delay on the trade body's long-awaited decision regarding the amount of retaliation that Antigua and Barbuda can impose on the United States in their Internet gambling trade dispute.
"We understand the report has been delayed," said Gretchen Hamel, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office, without giving further details.
The delay may have also impacted the claims of other countries, including the EU, for which there was a similar deadline of December 14. In a parallel issue, the negotiations with the United States to come to a compensation agreement also seemed to be in limbo. If those talks don't lead to a consensus, the European Union could, like Antigua, also request that a WTO arbitration panel decide the matter.
An... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: jetset at December 11, 2007, 12:19 pm | | Topic: Online gambling case pits Antigua against U.S. and challenges WTO Forum: Casino Meister |
CRUNCH WEEK FOR WTO DISPUTE
Friday deadline for US compensation response
After years of litigation, political manouevring and agreed postponements of previous deadlines, it looks as if Friday this week may see some firm developments in the United States response to its World Trade Organisation dilemma.
Mark Mendel, a private attorney representing Antigua, told Reuters ahead of an expected ruling by the WTO arbitration panel on Friday that he expects to succeed with a claim for compensation that could be worth up to $3.44 billion a year in "cross retaliation" moves as a response to US actions against the Antiguans over online gambling.
In an April 2005 ruling, the WTO found a U.S. law allowing only domestic companies to provide online horse-race gambling services discriminated against foreign companies, reports The Guardian newspaper. The United States has argued Antigua is entitled to only $500 000 in compensation because of that ban.
But Antig... | | Read Entire Entry |
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