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US Trade Representative seeks public comment on Antigua beef
Although this seems to have slipped right past everyone, including the multi-million dollar lobbyists at the PPA, the October 19th Notice does say comments will be accepted after October 23d:
[Federal Register: October 19, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 202)] [Notices] [Page 61808-61809] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr19oc06-135] ================================================== ===================== ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE [Docket No. WTO/DS285] WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding United States-- Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), at the request of Antigua and Barbuda, has established a panel under Article 21.5 of the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (``DSU'') to examine the compliance of the United States with the DSB recommendations and rulings in the matter of United States--Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services. The panel request may be found at http://www.wto.org- in a document designated as WT/DS285/18. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute. DATES: Although USTR will accept any comments received during the course of the dispute settlement proceedings, comments should be submitted on or before October 23 to be assured of timely consideration by USTR. ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted (i) electronically, to FR0701@ustr.eop.gov, Attn: ``Gambling and Betting Dispute (DS285)'' in the subject line, or (ii) by fax, to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-3640. For documents sent by fax, USTR requests that the submitter provide a confirmation copy to the electronic mail address listed above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Busis, Associate General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508, (202) 395-3150. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior WTO Proceedings On June 12, 2003, Antigua and Barbuda requested a dispute settlement panel to consider its claims that U.S. Federal, State and territorial laws on gambling violate U.S. commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), to the extent that such laws prevent or can prevent operators from Antigua and Barbuda from lawfully offering gambling and betting services in the United States. The WTO ruled on April 20, 2005, rejecting all of Antigua and Barbuda's claims except the WTO ruled that for the United States to show that the Federal gambling laws meet the requirements of the chapeau to Article XIV of the GATS, the United States needed to clarify an issue concerning Internet gambling on horse racing. On May 19, 2005, the United States stated its intention to implement the DSB recommendations and rulings. On April 10, 2006, the United States informed the DSB that the United States had complied with the DSB recommendations and rulings. Issues Raised by Antigua and Barbuda In its panel request under Article 21.5 of the DSU, Antigua disputes that the United States has complied with the DSB recommendations and rulings. Antigua raises the following issues: (1) Antigua and Barbuda argues that the United States has not taken any measure to comply with the DSB recommendations and rulings. (2) Second, Antigua and Barbuda characterizes U.S. compliance as relying on a ``restatement of a legal position taken by a party to a dispute,'' and argues that such action is legally insufficient under the DSU to amount to compliance. (3) Third, Antigua and Barbuda disputes that the U.S. compliance brings the measures at issue within the scope of the GATS Article XIV public morals/public order exception. Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning the issues raised in this dispute. Persons may submit their comments either (i) electronically, to FR0701@ustr.eop.gov, Attn: ``Gambling and Betting Dispute (DS285)'' in the subject line, or (ii) by fax to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-3640. For documents sent by fax, USTR requests that the submitter provide a confirmation copy to the electronic mail address listed above. USTR encourages the submission of documents in Adobe PDF format, as attachments to an electronic mail. Interested persons who make submissions by electronic mail should not provide separate cover letters; information that might appear in a cover [[Page 61809]] letter should be included in the submission itself. Similarly, to the extent possible, any attachments to the submission should be included in the same file as the submission itself, and not as separate files. A person requesting that information contained in a comment submitted by that person be treated as confidential business information must certify that such information is business confidential and would not customarily be released to the public by the submitter. Confidential business information must be clearly designated as such and the submission must be marked ``Business Confidential'' at the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page. Information or advice contained in a comment submitted, other than business confidential information, may be determined by USTR to be confidential in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155(g)(2)). If the submitter believes that information or advice may qualify as such, the submitter-- (1) Must clearly so designate the information or advice; (2) Must clearly mark the material as ``Submitted in Confidence'' at the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page; and (3) Is encouraged to provide a non-confidential summary of the information or advice. Pursuant to section 127(e) of the URAA (19 U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR will maintain a file on this dispute settlement proceeding, accessible to the public, in the USTR Reading Room, which is located at 1724 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508. The public file will include non- confidential comments received by USTR from the public with respect to the dispute; and the U.S. submissions, the submissions, or non- confidential summaries of submissions, received from other participants in the dispute; the report of the panel and; if applicable, the report of the Appellate Body. An appointment to review the public file (Docket No. WT/DS285, Gambling and Betting Dispute) may be made by calling the USTR Reading Room at (202) 395-6186. The USTR Reading Room is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Daniel E. Brinza, Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and Enforcement. [FR Doc. E6-17527 Filed 10-18-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3190-W7-P |
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Re: US Trade Representative seeks public comment on Antigua beef
i'm going to email him "lol repealaments"
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Re: US Trade Representative seeks public comment on Antigua beef
Cliff's notes:
Persons may submit their comments either (i) electronically, to FR0701@ustr.eop.gov, Attn: ``Gambling and Betting Dispute (DS285) Email this address and comment that the US should repeal the UIGEA to comply with the WTO ruling. |
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Re: US Trade Representative seeks public comment on Antigua beef
[ QUOTE ]
Cliff's notes: Persons may submit their comments either (i) electronically, to FR0701@ustr.eop.gov, Attn: ``Gambling and Betting Dispute (DS285) Email this address and comment that the US should repeal the UIGEA to comply with the WTO ruling. [/ QUOTE ] Sent a constructive email, everyone should do this. |
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Re: US Trade Representative seeks public comment on Antigua beef
Antinua has poker, u.s. has poker (B&M). But the u.s. gov't is making it more difficult to access the Antigua poker because Antigua offers a more competitive product to u.s. customers (lower rake, more generous bonuses/comps, freerolls, etc), thus cutting off free trade and sending us to play u.s. B&M games.
Isn't this a valid argument for the WTO? Isn't this exactly what the WTO was set up for? Or does it break down at a difference between online and B&M somewhere? |
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Re: US Trade Representative seeks public comment on Antigua beef
I think Antigua and the US will come to some agreement that will keep the status quo in place. The US will throw some money at Antigua in return for dropping their complaint.
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Re: US Trade Representative seeks public comment on Antigua beef
[ QUOTE ]
The US will throw some money at Antigua in return for dropping their complaint. [/ QUOTE ] From what I understand, the online gaming sector employs a substantial percentage of Antiguan economy. I don't think "throwing some money" at them will compensate for the potential loss of that economy. |
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Re: US Trade Representative seeks public comment on Antigua beef
[ QUOTE ]
Antinua has poker, u.s. has poker (B&M). But the u.s. gov't is making it more difficult to access the Antigua poker because Antigua offers a more competitive product to u.s. customers (lower rake, more generous bonuses/comps, freerolls, etc), thus cutting off free trade and sending us to play u.s. B&M games. Isn't this a valid argument for the WTO? Isn't this exactly what the WTO was set up for? Or does it break down at a difference between online and B&M somewhere? [/ QUOTE ] Yes, but I dont think Antigua winning in the WTO is the problem. They have already won the first round and as a smarter-than-me poster has said: Prohibition II turns a "homerun into a grandslam". The US is wrong and thumbing its nose at international law it helped to create. But what can the WTO or Antigua do about it? That 's the question. |
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Re: US Trade Representative seeks public comment on Antigua beef
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] Cliff's notes: Persons may submit their comments either (i) electronically, to FR0701@ustr.eop.gov, Attn: ``Gambling and Betting Dispute (DS285) Email this address and comment that the US should repeal the UIGEA to comply with the WTO ruling. [/ QUOTE ] Sent a constructive email, everyone should do this. [/ QUOTE ] Thanks for making this suggestion. Also, I appreciate having this brought to our attention. I fired off an email as well, which I included below (I'm admittedly not that well-versed on the law, but I will spend time and energy on behalf of my poker hobby). On another note, I think too many people here spend way too much time criticizing the PPA. From petty gripes about their CEO's awkward mannerisms on TV to allegations of "chronic incompetence," we find an endless barrage of criticisms. Is this really necessary? It's not like they have an easy battle to fight. This fight is relatively new; and they lack the entrenched organization, public support, and funds of their adversaries (e.g. FRC, NCALG). If you want to fault find, there are better targets. Personally, I'd rather invest my resources trying to do something more constructive. Before making another perfunctory criticism of the PPA, consider that the overwhelming public sentiment is probably accurately captured here: NCALG's web page Jeffrey (email submitted below) Greetings, The US should repeal the UIGEA to comply with the WTO ruling. If we want to break down trade barriers we need to demonstrate a willingness to abide by our own recommendations. The status quo is unacceptable and rightly casts the US as hypocrites. We should be willing to support free trade even when certain interest groups find it inconvenient. A consistent support of free trade does not mean closing our markets to other countries wishing to compete with our domestic gaming industry. It is laughable hyprocrisy to claim compliance while affording domestic horseracing, state lotteries, and fantasy sports unimpeded and legal access to our markets. Demonizing foreign competitors who seek access to our markets does not make them criminals or boogeymen. However, it does reflect a worrisome trend of protectionism-the devil is in the details. Jeffrey |
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Re: US Trade Representative seeks public comment on Antigua beef
I like you e-mail Jeffrey.
From NCALG's web page [ QUOTE ] compulsive gambling typically seizes the lives of 1.5% to 2.5% of the adult population. That amounts to three to five times the number of people suffering from cancer. [/ QUOTE ] This is a despicable comparison! People die of cancer (564,000+ this year alone) and are no longer in the comparison I guess. If you are in remission you don't count either. There are well over 10 million Americans who have been or are being treated for cancer in the United States. This is insane they are insinuating that gambling addiction is more prevalent than cancer in the United States. |
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