Antigua pressures united states on w.t.o. rulings

Last week the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Baldwin Spencer met with US Trade Representative Ron Kirk to discuss the dispute the island country has had with America over internet gambling.

Reportedly the discussion saw Prime Minister Spencer expressing his disappointment that the two countries have not come to an agreeable solution to the issue, even though the World Trade Organization ruled in Antigua's favor almost 10 years ago.

Spencer reported that his country had put several options on the table but that: “There has been no fairness in the proposals received from the United States to date.”

“Antigua and Barbuda’s Internet gaming sector has been decimated by the actions of the United States and we believe that we must be fairly compensated for those losses."

During the discussions, PM Spencer asked Trade Representative Kirk to accept the country's recent proposal to take advantage of a WTO mediation effort.

For his part, Kirk said that a solution for the problem has been elusive but said that "the United States remains committed to working with Antigua and Barbuda in finding a solution.”

He went on to say that his office will review the latest proposal from Antigua and Barbuda and will hold more discussions with the island nation's Ambassador over the next few days.