Antigua-US meeting? Antigua and Barbuda’s WTO gaming negotiation team was slated to convene a meeting with the Office of the United States Trade Representatives yesterday in an effort to resolve the long standing WTO cross-border supply of gaming services dispute (WTD, 10/24/13). The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, has expounded publically that resolving this issue in a fair, reasonable and positive manner is a top priority of his government. The United States breached commitments it made to WTO members under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) by maintaining and enforcing laws that act to prevent foreign-based operators – including those based in Antigua and Barbuda – from offering gambling and betting services on a cross-border basis to consumers located in the United States. The WTO ruled back in 2004 that these laws contravened the obligations of the United States under the GATS and directed the Americans to bring their laws into compliance with their GATS obligations. The initial ruling was upheld on appeals and despite occasional claims of compliance, the United States remains in violation of international law. Sustained attempts by the Antiguan government to negotiate a reasonable and balanced settlement have not been effective, as the United States has failed to engage with Antigua and Barbuda to date in any meaningful way.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 11:37:51 +0000
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