Frank, other reps ask US Trade Rep to reconsider WTO gaming position
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Barney Frank and seven other representatives including John Conyers have today drafted and sent a letter to United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab, whose duties include overseeing World Trade Organization affairs. The letter addresses the US decisions so far in relation to gaming obligations through the WTO. In particular, the letter asks that the US consider keeping to its WTO commitments rather than withdraw and find itself faced with trade concessions involving Antigua and Barbados, the EU, India, Japan, Costa Rica, Macao, Canada and Australia.
The US decision to withdraw from its trade commitments could encourage other countries to withdraw commitments that turn out to be “inconvenient or politically difficult,” stated the letter.
We are concerned about this because substantial trading partners, including the European Union, have pursued their right to meaningful compensation for the withdrawal of the obligation — compensation which could prove expensive for the U.S. economy. However, we are perhaps more concerned about what this withdrawal says about U.S. credibility as a trading partner at a time when it is pursuing its own interests to market.
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.
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.
Robert Wexler, John Larson, Shelley Berkley, Jim McDermott, and Steve Cohen, Democrats all, are the other representatives involved with this letter.
