Comments on: The Jolly Roger http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/the_jolly_roger/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:30:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Dave Schuler http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/the_jolly_roger/#comment-143339 Dave Schuler Sat, 25 Aug 2007 12:10:28 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/08/the_jolly_roger/#comment-143339 It's hard for me to see how all sorts of local proscriptions could survive this doctrine. IMO the WTO erred in granting Antigua standing on this case and now they've painted themselves into a box. It's hard for me to see how all sorts of local proscriptions could survive this doctrine. IMO the WTO erred in granting Antigua standing on this case and now they've painted themselves into a box.

]]> By: Matthew Stinson http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/the_jolly_roger/#comment-143334 Matthew Stinson Sat, 25 Aug 2007 11:40:13 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2007/08/the_jolly_roger/#comment-143334 I was unaware the WTO could agree to a "penalty" that would so radically violate one of the basic principles of the WTO. I'd guess the WTO would offer Antigua the right to some retaliatory tariffs (which would be felt as a "pin prick," as the article notes) instead of granting Mr. Mendel's request. This case opens up a number of thought experiments. For example, could a country that produces a large amount of pork or alcohol demand the right for its products to be sold openly in Muslim countries? Another: imagine if a WTO member allows legalized prostitution with girls as young as 16, but a US international sting operation nets a few dozen Americans for pedophilic sex tourism. Could the country in question try to sanction the US in the WTO for disrupting its goods and services? The above having been said, my inner libertarian says I don't think it's the US' business to be picking and choosing which forms of gambling it considers illegal, so the government probably had this one coming to it. I was unaware the WTO could agree to a "penalty" that would so radically violate one of the basic principles of the WTO. I'd guess the WTO would offer Antigua the right to some retaliatory tariffs (which would be felt as a "pin prick," as the article notes) instead of granting Mr. Mendel's request.

This case opens up a number of thought experiments. For example, could a country that produces a large amount of pork or alcohol demand the right for its products to be sold openly in Muslim countries? Another: imagine if a WTO member allows legalized prostitution with girls as young as 16, but a US international sting operation nets a few dozen Americans for pedophilic sex tourism. Could the country in question try to sanction the US in the WTO for disrupting its goods and services?

The above having been said, my inner libertarian says I don't think it's the US' business to be picking and choosing which forms of gambling it considers illegal, so the government probably had this one coming to it.

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