Antigua, US make last attempts to settle gaming row

Antigua's Minister of Finance and Economy, Dr Errol Cort arrived in Washington earlier this week ahead of the high level talks with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Susan Schwab and other officials in the USTR’s office. (File photo)

ST JOHN'S, Antigua, May 22, 2008 – Antigua and Barbuda the United States will hold talks on Friday aimed at finally resolving the trade dispute over market access for Internet gambling countries registered in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

The Minister of Finance and Economy Dr Errol Cort arrived in Washington earlier this week ahead of the high level talks with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Susan Schwab and other officials in the USTR’s office.

With less than a month before the current round of talks must end, the two have still not resolved the issue which has been dragging on for several years. Both parties had agreed to suspend the legal process before the World Trade Organisation (WTO) until June 6 in an effort to reach an amicable resolution. If there is no resolution, the legal battle will resume.

The dispute between the two countries stems from a 2003 case in which Antigua went to the WTO claiming that the US was violating trade treaties by preventing online gambling operators in the Caribbean country from doing business in the US. The WTO ruled that US should not be allowed to ban Antigua and Barbuda's internet gaming sites, but the US failed to comply.

In December last year, the a WTO Dispute Settlement Body arbitrator awarded Antigua a settlement of US$21 million per year in trade sanctions as compensation, despite the country's claim of more significant US$3.44 billion a year.