I wrote:
US telecom corps are big pushers for privatization of state run telecom
networks and are currently prepping to take Mexico to the WTO over the
issue; with Taiwan in the WTO they'd have their wedge to gobble up that
market too.
Ian
===========
Little did I know they were doing so as I spoke...
Friday August 18, 12:56 pm Eastern Time
U.S. takes Mexico to WTO over telecoms row
GENEVA, Aug 18 (Reuters) - The United States has formally launched a World
Trade Organisation (WTO) case which it hopes will force Mexico to open up
its domestic telecommunications market, diplomats said on Friday.
They said the U.S. complaint, in the form of a request for consultations
with Mexico on the row, was filed with the WTO on Thursday. It says Mexico
is breaking its obligations under the WTO's agreement on trade in services.
Earlier this month, U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky,
apparently responding to pressure from U.S. companies like AT&T Corp
(NYSE:T - news) and WorldCom Inc (NasdaqNM:WCOM - news), accused Mexico of
allowing former state monopoly Telefonos de Mexico SA, or Telmex, to
manipulate the domestic market.
The U.S. companies say they are forced by Telmex to pay unfairly high fees
for connections to the Mexican network and that it is barring them access to
bandwidths needed for provision of Internet services.
Telmex has rejected these accusations.
Under WTO rules, Mexico has 10 days to respond to the U.S. request and 30
days to begin consultations. If no agreement is reached within 60 days, the
United States can then ask the WTO to set up a panel to look into its
complaint.
