Article-Lawmakers press USTR for new tack in gambling case

[Jay Cohen]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7087682

Lawmakers press USTR for new tack in gambling case

By Doug Palmer
WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The Bush administration should explore legislation to roll back a U.S. ban on Internet gambling instead of paying compensation to the European Union and other trading partners, the chairmen of two House of Representatives committees said on Monday.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers and six other lawmakers criticized the Bush administration's handling of the issue in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab.
"Your agency has chosen not to consult with Congress, but instead to take what we view as a drastic step which could have significant consequences for the whole WTO (World Trade Organization) system," the lawmakers said.......................................
.................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ..."We are writing to express our interest in considering possible legislative solutions that might restore U.S. compliance with the GATS agreement without renouncing any of our commitments under that agreement," the lawmakers said.

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