US And EU meet about online gambling violations

[The Buzz]

According to numerous sources, including CasinoGamblingWeb.com, the United States and the European Union met on Monday to discuss four pressing issues. One of those issues was online gambling.

The EU conducted an investigation earlier this year that said the UIGEA was violating trade agreements.

"Today was not a day to resolve any problems, but rather to set out the approach we are going to take, who would do what, and to agree to keep in touch," said EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton, citing that the four areas needed to be discussed "we think are ripe to be looked at again to see if we can find a creative solution."

The three other issues being discussed are a dispute over the rights to play Irish music (of course), trade implications of chemical regulations, and US rice exports to the EU.

[Anthony]

I had to get more information - especially the Irish music issue.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/worl...trade-disputes

European online gambling firms lost billions of euros in value after the US Congress three years ago made it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank has introduced legislation to reverse the ban, but the outlook is unclear.

I hope the arrogance and disregard the U.S. has displayed in the past toward WTO, will be replaced with a genuine effort to work through these issues.

The U.S. can't selectively abide by agreements and then condemn others, like China when they don't comply. It completely undermines the U.S. position on all other aspects of free trade.

[JonOfFinsbury]

http://www.egrmagazine.com/news/indu...s-resume.thtml

[Anthony]

With the complaint on the agenda for the next three meetings between the USTR and EU Trade Commissioner, Hawkwood is hopeful of a resolution by spring 2010.

Let's hope... I'm marking the calender.