US Set To Appeal Unfavourable WTO Internet Gambling Ruling

by Glen Shapiro, LawAndTax-News.com, New York

05 November 2004

Following the failure of bilateral talks between the United States and Antigua and Barbuda over the former's move to ban its citizens from using internet gambling sites, it emerged this week that the US authorities are readying themselves for a renewed struggle.

Antigua and Barbuda brought the case to the World Trade Organisation in 2003, arguing that by restricting the internet gambling activities of US citizens, the United States was unfairly damaging the jurisdiction's economy, in contravention of the General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS).

After the US lost an arbitration proceeding under the trade dispute resolution process of the WTO in March, both sides attempted to reach a negotiated settlement. However, following four months of negotiations, Dr Errol Court, Antigua’s finance minister, revealed last month that all opportunities for a mutually agreed settlement have been “fully exhausted.”

The Caribbean jurisdiction has now asked the WTO to rule on the matter. However, speaking to the Associated Press on Tuesday, the US deputy chief of mission to the Eastern Caribbean, Mary Ellen Gilroy revealed that:

"The WTO has not yet ruled. But the US will look at the ruling and may appeal if the decision goes against it."

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