EU says US online gambling laws breach WTO
26 March 2009
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- As reported by Reuters: "A U.S crackdown on European online gambling breaches World Trade Organisation rules and would justify action at the World Trade Organisation, the European Commission said on Thursday.
"The European Union executive, which oversees trade policy for the 27-nation bloc, said its draft report found that such U.S. laws hampered trade and thus were inconsistent with WTO rules but stressed it would seek a negotiated solution.
"'It is for the U.S. to decide how best to regulate Internet gambling in its market, but this must be done in a way that fully respects WTO obligations,' EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton said in a statement.
"'I am hopeful that we can find a swift, negotiated solution to this issue,' she said..."