Antigua & Barbuda file submission to WTO disputes panel

Sir Ronald Sanders

Thursday, October 2, 2003

GENEVA, Switzerland: The government of Antigua and Barbuda yesterday met a deadline set by a Disputes Panel of the World Trade Organisation by filing its first submission in a complaint brought against the United States.

The WTO set up the panel to adjudicate the dispute between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States over the provision of cross-border gambling and betting services from Antigua and Barbuda to consumers in the United States.

Sir Ronald Sanders, Chief Foreign Affairs Representative of Antigua and Barbuda, said, "We are pleased that our case is proceeding according to the schedule set by the panel. We look forward to hearing the response of the United States. As a small country with very little in the way of viable exports, the gaming industry represents a vital area of our development of electronic commerce for a global market. We believe very strongly in our case under the law."

Under the WTO dispute resolution process, the United States has four weeks in which to provide its response to the Antigua and Barbuda submission. 

Antigua and Barbuda's claim is based upon the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services. The authorities of the small Caribbean island-state argue that the United States is violating its own commitments to WTO member countries under the GATS by prohibiting the provision of cross-border gambling and betting services from Antigua.

The WTO dispute Panel will have formal hearings in November, and is expected to rule by the end of February, 2004. 

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