Antigua & Barbuda To Claim Compensation from the US

The dispute between the small island Antigua & Barbuda and the US related to Internet gambling is far from over.

The latest act made by Antigua & Barbuda was a request to file claims for compensation against the United States. For this were called all the 150 members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

It seems that recently in Geneva, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body's ruling on the matter was formally adopted by the WTO. The verdict was clear: the US continues to violate its commitments under the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in relation to the restrictions placed on isolated gambling areas.

On the other hand, the US has declared its intention to change its GATS commitments so that it no longer blocks access to Internet gambling companies. This move is expected to end the dispute with Antigua & Barbuda.

Mark Mendel, Antigua & Barbuda's attorney at the WTO, states that Antigua & Barbuda is actually encouraging WTO members to claim compensation from the US if it attempts to break the old treaty.