OTTAWA DEMARCHE RESPONSE: COLLECTIVE REQUEST FOR

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000756 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ECPS ETRD WTRO SUBJECT: OTTAWA DEMARCHE RESPONSE: COLLECTIVE REQUEST FOR ONLINE GAME SERVICES IN WTO REF: SECSTATE 36507 ¶1. (SBU) Post presented the demarche and talking points to Joanne Hamilton, Deputy Director of Services Trade Policy Division, International Trade Canada. Ms. Hamilton indicated that she is in touch with U.S. counterparts in DC on this issue, and she added that Canadian industry groups have also raised the issue with her office and in Geneva. ¶2. (SBU) Ms. Hamilton explained that although the GOC is interested in investigating the possibility of including online game services in WTO, the Canadian consultative process is too lengthy to allow the GOC to cosponsor this request at the next GATS cluster beginning March 27. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS