U.S. Seeks WTO Help in Mexico Dispute

The United States formally asked the World Trade Organization to appoint a hearing panel to rule on its claims that Mexico is unfairly keeping U.S. companies from competing in Mexico’s $12-billion telecommunications market. U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said her office filed a formal request with the WTO in Geneva after discussions with the administration of new Mexican President Vicente Fox failed to produce a breakthrough. U.S. telecommunications companies allege that Mexican telecommunications giant Telefonos de Mexico, or Telmex, is conspiring with the Mexican government to keep foreign companies out of the Mexican market through high interconnection fees and other anti-competitive measures that violate WTO rules.