ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Jan 22, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda says it believes “another generation” may be required to settle the agreement with the United States over the decades-old World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling in favour of the Caribbean island as any hope of a settlement on the horizon “is beginning to fade”.
Antigua and Barbuda had taken its case against the US to the WTO in 2003 regarding its online gambling industry following Washington’s efforts to prosecute foreign-based suppliers of online gambling services.
St. John’s had argued that the North American country had violated its General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), a WTO treaty governs international trade in services and was established in 1995 as part of the Uruguay Round negotiations.
The WTO ultimately ruled in favour of Antigua and Barbuda and awarded the country the right to suspend US$21 million annually in intellectual property rights held by US firms.
(Details in Business section)
CMC/2025