24. As to Article XVI:2(c), the United States contends that the Panel did not come to the proper ordinary meaning of this provision because it used an incorrect reading of the French and Spanish versions as the basis for its interpretation, which is at odds with a plain reading of the English text. This approach, which is contrary to Article 33(4) of the Vienna Convention, is said to have led the Panel to the erroneous conclusion that Article XVI:2(c) refers to limitations "expressed in terms of designated numerical units" and limitations "in the form of quotas", when in fact the absence of a comma in Article XVI:2(c) requires these to be read together as a unitary requirement, namely, limitations "expressed in terms of designated numerical units in the form of quotas". 25. The United States submits that none of the United States state and federal laws imposes a limitation on the number of service suppliers "in the form of numerical quotas" or limitations on service operations or output "expressed as designated numerical units in the form of quotas". Rather, these laws represent domestic regulation limiting the characteristics of supply of gambling services, not the quantity of services or service suppliers. More specifically, these laws are "in the form of" and "expressed" as non-numerical, non-quota criteria that restrict certain activities, rather than restricting numbers of suppliers, operations, or output. As these laws match none of the "forms" identified in Article XVI:2(a) or XVI:2(c), the United States argues that the Panel should have found that these laws are not inconsistent with those provisions.26. The United States contends that the Panel's interpretation of Article XVI:2(a) and XVI:2(c) would "unreasonably and absurdly" deprive Members of much of their right to regulate services by not allowing them to prohibit selected activities in sectors where commitments are made. The approach to market access liberalization reflected in the GATS is said not to provide an unlimited right to supply services throughout each committed sector or mode of supply. Such an approach would be at odds, so it is argued, with the balance between liberalization and regulation reflected in the Members' recognized right to regulate services. According to the United States, there is no reason why a Member's imposition of nationality-neutral limitations should violate Article XVI provided that they do not take the form of numerical quotas or any other form prohibited by Article XVI:2. Such limitations remain subject to other GATS provisions, however, including Article VI. In this regard, the United States also questions the Panel's finding that Article XVI, and Article VI:4 and VI:5, are mutually exclusive.
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