-------- Original Message -------- Subject: U.S. online-gambling ban violates international trade laws, WTO rules Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 01:21:17 -0800 From: Jeff Williams <jwkckid1@private> To: declan@private <declan@private> Declan, This may be of some interest to your readers... Is the US the "odd man out" here?? See: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/166397_gambing26.html The World Trade Organization, in its first decision on an Internet-related dispute, has ignited a political, cultural and legal tinderbox by ruling that the U.S. policy prohibiting online gambling violates its obligations under international trade law. The ruling by a WTO panel Wednesday is being hailed by online casinos operators overseas as a major victory that could force the United States to liberalize its laws. But the Bush administration vowed to appeal the decision, and several members of Congress said they would rather have an international trade war or withdraw from future rounds of the World Trade Organization than have American social policy dictated from abroad. It's appalling," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. "It cannot be allowed to stand that another nation can impose its values on the U.S. and make it a trade issue." Regards, -- Jeffrey A. Williams _______________________________________________ Politech mailing list Archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Moderated by Declan McCullagh (http://www.mccullagh.org/)
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