Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 13, 2014 News
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) through its Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) has called for the United States (US) to be compliant with the decision of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body in the Antigua and Barbuda and US dispute with respect to Online Gaming.
In its 38th meeting that was recently held in Guyana COTED disclosed the need for the US to make additional efforts to reach a fair settlement with Antigua and Barbuda over the disputed issue of the US denying that country access to gambling and betting services within its country via the internet medium.
In 2004, the WTO ruled in favour of Antigua and Barbuda after the CARICOM Member State challenged measures implemented by the US (a member of the WTO), which affected its cross-border supply of gambling and betting services.
The WTO had reported that on 21 March 2003, “Antigua and Barbuda requested consultations with the US regarding measures applied by central, regional and local authorities in the US which affect the cross-border supply of gambling and betting services. Antigua and Barbuda considered that the cumulative impact of the US measures is to prevent the supply of gambling and betting services from another WTO Member to the United States on a cross-border basis.”
A panel was established to arbitrate the concerns of the US and Antigua and the panel found among other things that Antigua was justified in its actions. That panel was appealed by the US and the contention between the two parties were revisited where this time around some of the concerns that Antigua had were reversed in favour of the US but the overall contention of Antigua being prevented from the issuance of such services was upheld.
Governor General of Antigua Dame Louise Lake-Tack had earlier this year expressed that its once flourishing gaming industry has been ruined by US laws prohibiting and criminalising the provisions of remote gaming services from Antigua and Barbuda to consumers in the United States.
“Necessary arrangements would be made to the Copyright Act, the Trademark Act and the Patents Act to invoke the WTO (World Trade Organization) approved sanction by removing any protection which US intellectual property may have in Antigua and Barbuda,” she said.
Antigua claimed that it lost US$3.4 billion a year due to the US action, but the WTO awarded the island US$21 million.
COTED noted “that the US had so far failed to become compliant with the decision of the tribunal and had also failed to reach a settlement with Antigua and Barbuda.”
The Council acknowledged “that the case was long outstanding and had the potential to undermine the credibility of the dispute settlement mechanism of the multilateral trading system”.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]