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WTO Again Sides With Antigua Over Online Gambling
TechDirt writes "For some time we've been following the ongoing conflict between the US and the island nation of Antigua surrounding internet gambling. Even before the passage of the most recent anti-gambling law, Antigua had gone to the WTO to complain that the US government's actions against online gambling were de facto protectionist measures, and thus violated international trade law. The WTO ended up siding with Antigua, although, quite predictably, the US did nothing to resolve the issue -- in fact, things have only gotten worse. Now the WTO is speaking out again, slamming the US government for its failure to abide by the decision against it. Once again, it seems likely that the US will ignore the decision, although that would give Antigua the right to retaliate. One possibility that's been thrown out there is that Antigua may turn itself into a haven for free music and software and set up some site like allofmp3.com. Of course, the US put pressure on Russia to crack down on that site, as part of the country's admittance into the WTO, but since Antigua is already part of the organization, the US would have no such leverage. Now, the WTO has spoken out again."
It was an april fools joke. When those stories disapear so will the slashdottit box.
The report also noted that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was passed after Antigua's initial complaint, has the same loopholes that exist in the laws that encouraged Antigua to file the complaint. These loopholes are the main reasons that the panel ruled the U.S. is violating trade laws. Because the U.S. allows certain types of online gambling transactions to take place within its borders, but actively tries to stop the same services from being offered by companies located outside the U.S., the U.S. is violating WTO agreements.
State lotteries and horse racing which can be bet on via the internet is what destroyed our case. The WTO allows for "morality" based restrictions -- but they must be applied uniformly. Since we already allow for online gambling, restricting foriegn interests from participating is the problem.
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2006/04/wto- rules-for-us-in-canada-softwood.php
Googled for this out of interest.
Do you have a more recent story? Because this one from last year contradicts you.
-- perl -e'print pack"H*","6e656d6f406d38792e6f7267"'
From the WTO ruling.
s p#11
. aspx?isRedirect=True&Language=E&publication_id=383 935&docnumber=45
"6.2 We therefore consider that the United States has implemented the recommendations and
rulings of the DSB in US - Softwood Lumber V, to bring its measure into conformity with its
obligations under the AD Agreement.
6.3 Having found that the United States did not act inconsistently with its obligations under the
asserted WTO Agreements, we consider that no recommendation under Article 19.1 of the DSU is
necessary, and we make none."
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/dispute-en.a
Final settlement documented here:
http://w01.international.gc.ca/MinPub/Publication
-- perl -e'print pack"H*","6e656d6f406d38792e6f7267"'
If a job's not worth doing, it's not worth doing right.
WTO - World Trade Organization
The WTO cares because one of Antigua's chief exports is gambling. Since we're a member of the WTO we've agreed to not apply protectionist measures to other WTO countries. Banning over-seas gambling is a de facto protectionist measure.
The WTO is not particularly concerned with human rights violations, only the free flow of goods and services between its member countries.
democratic oligarchy, in which a small clique of the ultra-wealthy ruling class both court and manipulate the unrestraine
Isn't that a Plutocracy?
Honestly, when your Congressmen are openly bought by lobby groups, you guys should have a really issue with that... Votes in Congress should not be bought by the highest bidder, and it's sad that Congressmen so open are okay with that.
And when your choice is Incumbant Congressional Whore A vs. Challenging Congressional Whore B there isn't a whole hell of a lot anyone can do about it...
And Senators are no better - equally as whorish as their Congressional counterparts.
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
We do allow domestic online gambling. You can gamble on horse racing online legally in the united states. This is Antigua's argument. We either have to ban it all, or ban none.
Jack Valenti and Orrin Hatch will be first up against the wall when the revolution comes.
But we outlawed off shore gambling on horses. We also outlawed off shore sports gambling. The WTO says we can't. The US said they outlawed it for moral reasons, but the WTO said that as long as you have some online gambling you can't use that excuse.
Jack Valenti and Orrin Hatch will be first up against the wall when the revolution comes.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/s tory.html?id=219f231b-4736-4970-9179-9f3edf4c0634& k=31811
August 2006.
Despite the "Settlement" of April of 2006, the U.S. continues to ignore WTO rulings that are not in its favor, regardless of the industry in question.