US Trade Representative Ron Kirk met with EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton for the trade disputes between the two economic powers, including the disagreement over the US online gambling ban.
The EU has advised the US it sees the ban as a block of free trade in services.
The two ambassadors agreed to set plans and agendas for developing talks. Both ambassadors seemed cheerfully but guardedly optimistic that the disputes could be settled amicably.
Ashton said she brought to Kirk’s attention a recent investigation by the EU that concluded US policies were hampering trade in the area of Internet gambling.
European online gaming companies are claiming billions of dollars in damages due to both the US ban on Internet gambling and the persecutorial investigations into European operators.
The UIGEA ban now faces legislative challenges led by Barney Frank, judicial challenges led by the iMEGA lawsuit, and executive challenges led by the EU dispute. The problematic law has caused financial, political, and legal difficulties.
