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Antigua and Barbuda Accuses US of Inaction Over WTO Case
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15-Oct-2007, 13:29
The tiny Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has accused the US of failing to comply with a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling that it discriminates unfairly against online gambling companies based in Antigua. Last year the WTO dispute settlement body (DSB) ruled that while the US was entitled to restrict internet gambling, the rules were not being applied fairly. The case arose from complaints from internet gaming companies, several of which are based in Antigua, that US laws unfairly discriminated against foreign companies by prohibiting cross-border betting.
The deadline for the US to comply with the ruling is April 3 2008, but Antigua’s government has accused Rob Portman, US trade representative (USTR), of making no effort to bring American laws into line. John Ashe, Antigua’s WTO ambassador said in a letter sent to Mr Portman last week: “The apparent lack of movement by the United States to comply with the rulings and recommendations of the DSB lead our government to be extremely concerned with the intentions of the United States.”
If the WTO finds that the US has not complied with the ruling, it can permit Antigua to impose reciprocal trade sanctions, but these would be almost entirely symbolic for such a small trading partner. Mark Mendel, Antigua’s lead attorney in the case, said he suspected that the US was exploiting that weakness. “Their overall strategy in this case has been to do nothing,” he said.
Christin Baker, a spokeswoman for Mr Portman, said that the deadline for compliance had not yet arrived and that only one of Antigua’s many complaints had been upheld by the WTO panel.
“The US is exploring a number of different avenues to clarify there is no discrimination – even outside of legislation,” she said. “We are in active discussions within the executive branch, with Congress and also with the private sector to determine the best way to move forward.”