WTO Settlement Brings USTR Out

April 10, 2008

The United States Trade Representative at the World Trade Organization is withholding information that is not vital to national security according to several legislators. They say that the fact that our government will not release details of online gambling deals is not a matter of national security and they want those documents released.

Barney Frank is not alone in asking for information on the trade deal with the European Union. He is joined by Ron Paul, the ranking member of the House Sub-committee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology. Paul and Frank had heard talk of the fact that Susan C. Schwab’s office would not release the details to the media, and were following up on it.

The two Congressmen sent her a letter asking for the details of the settlement and stating that the idea that national security is the reason that it was not being released unacceptable. They say that if there are fears of national security linked to the release of the information, then they really need to let people know so that they can be prepared.

They say that they do not however think that this is the truth of the situation, and that the US government is simply “avoiding revealing the cost of these trade concessions.” They say that they are misusing the Freedom of Information Act in their denial. They say that they would like a “prompt” response, and leave it at that.



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