Why is the United States at loggerheads with Europe over audio-visual services?
Par Vanessa MARSON, Docteur en langues et littratures anglaises et anglo-saxonnes de la Facult des Affaires internationales du Havre During the Uruguay Round negotiations on global flows of services (1986-1994) the issue of trade and culture generated much transatlantic debate. Audio-visual services were at stake, and are still causing problems between Europe and the United States. Cultural exception is at the root of the problem. While the United States is asking for the enforcement of the GATT principles on cultural services in particular audio-visual services – Europe is claiming cultural exception to protect culture from a merchandise status. The enforcement of the cultural exception dates from the end of the Uruguay Round. The cultural exception is a doctrine which doesnt have any legal status, nor does it exist as such in any treaty or agreement. The doctrine is based on the principle that culture is not like any other merchandise because it goes beyond the trade. Indeed, cultura
