US Trade Reps Avoid Online Casino Talks Again, This Time With EU
The Bush administration has consistently voiced support for free trade globally, and pushed for treaties with countries around the world removing trade barriers. Thus, it is no wonder that the U.S. Trade Representative's Office prefers to avoid and even ignore circumstances that reveal conflicting policy which proves embarrassing to the government.
In that spirit, the USTR has called for a postponement of scheduled talks between the U.S. and the European Union concerning online casinos and the effect of the UIGEA. Meetings between the two economic power were supposed to take place this week, but the office of Trade Representative Susan Schwab has reportedly requested a delay of unknown length, and for unknown reasons.
The EU talks became necessary after complaints filed by the Remote Gaming Association, representing online gambling operators throughout Europe, about protectionist policies in the U.S. Even though the UIGEA forced foreign gaming companies out of the U.S. market, domestic businesses, such as horse racing, continued to use the Internet as a gambling aide, without fear of reprisal.
After receiving the charges raised by the RGA, the European Commission sought to solve matters by inquiring with U.S. officials regarding the nature of the laws applied, and the ways in which acts were determined to be prosecutable. The U.S. responded through Schwab, saying that there was no discrimination, and therefore no need to reply to the EU questions.
The meeting was the next step in pursuing a just resolution to the accusations. Now the U.S. has repeated the behavior it exhibited in the similar case of Antigua, in which continuing to ignore deadlines and international rulings has been the policy in effect.
Continued U.S. arrogance may only worsen trade sanctions taken against the U.S. at a time when its economy needs all the lift it can get. A rescheduling of the EU talks may be the only way to prevent substantial damages being awarded against the United States.
