Antigua to Fight United States Over Internet Gambling WTO Issue

The United States lost a case ruled on by the World Trade Organization over their ban on Internet gambling and the WTO officially adopted it as an official ruling today. Instead of admitting defeat and changing their policy to comply with the WTO ruling, the US has decided to say that they simply did not like the rules so they should not have had to go by them. The US is not responding to Tuesday's WTO adoption because they claim they no longer have anything to do with the case after changing the GATS service agreement.

Antigua today threatened to target American trademarks, copyrights and telecommunications companies as result of the US's non-compliance.

Antigua, the smallest country to ever win a WTO ruling, is not going to accept the arrogance of the United States in this case and they are requesting the help of the EU and other countries that are affected by the United State's actions.

According to AP reports Brazil and India on Tuesday both said the United States was obliged by law to compensate Antigua if it wants to now redefine its services obligations. The European Union questioned how the new clarification of the US ban on online betting would eliminate the discrimination that allows for US companies providing offshore betting on horses and other services to remain in business.

"The American defense was predicated on their theory that Internet gambling was worse than gambling in bricks and mortar shops," said Mark Mendel, chief legal counsel for Antigua. "If they believed that, they would eliminate all remote gambling in America. They have not done that. It's just blatant trade protectionism."

Antigua claims that the US decision to change their service agreement could take years. Therefore, they will be going after monetary remedies immediately in order to supplement the income they lost from the US Internet gambling ban.

"Not only do we think that members should press claims for compensatory adjustments as a matter of economic self-interest, but we also believe it is important that the process is made as difficult as possible for the United States," Ambassador John Ashe of Antigua told the WTO's dispute settlement body.

May 22, 2007
Posted By Terry Goodwin
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