GENEVA, Switzerland, Weds. Feb. 23, 2005: Within 45 days, an appellate
panel of the World Trade Organization, will again decide whether
Antigua & Barbuda can keep engaging in Internet gaming legally or
whether the United States’ would have to change its laws to allow this
method of gambling.
Antigua-Barbuda Minister of Finance and the Economy, Errol Cort, on
Monday presented a 21-page document to the Appellate Body outlining
Antigua and Barbuda’s case, after the U.S. a ruling favour of Antigua
and Barbuda made last November.
The disputes panel ruled last year that U.S. financial regulations,
preventing transactions between U.S. financial institutions and
Antiguan-based Internet gambling companies, were in breach of
obligations of the U.S. under the General Agreement on Trade in
Services.
Finance Minister Cort told the panel yesterday, “We believe that any
resolution to this dispute will see our two countries developing a
scheme reasonably acceptable to both of us that allows Antiguan
operators fair competitive access to consumers in the United States.
Although the United States is not ready to negotiate with Antigua at
this time, we are hopeful that upon Antigua prevailing in this appeal,
the United States will consider constructive engagement with us to
achieve a speedy and comprehensive solution.”
Support for Antigua & Barbuda has so far come from Mexico and other
Caricom member-states. “Mexico has taken into consideration the merits
of the case presented by A&B in the WTO dispute with the U.S. on
cross-border supply of services,” a spokesperson announced in Mexico
City. “Mexico agrees with the Caricom heads that the case is a
pioneering one, instructive in many ways on how small states can defend
their rights in the WTO.”
Caricom heads of government agreed to support PM Baldwin Spencer in
this battle at their recent Suriname summit on Feb. 17 -18.
Some WTO member states, including others also involved in Internet
gambling, are monitoring the case closely as well as U.S. jurisdictions
with gaming industries.
Officials of the A&B gaming industry are confident that it operates
within a legal and administrative framework than can serve as a model
for other countries. “Despite the huge financial costs, our authorities
have strengthened the mechanisms for regulating the international
financial services sector and are bolstered our money laundering laws,”
said Kaye MacDonald, A&B’s director of Gaming.
Regional observers indicate that Mexico’s support of A&B in this
case takes on added significance because of the contest unfolding to
select the next Secretary General of the Organization of American
States. Among the leading contenders for the post are Mexico’s foreign
minister Luis Ernesto Derbez. Two other candidates are Chile’s interior
minister Jose Miguel Insulza and former El Salvador President Francisco
Flores.
The three contenders are vying for the support of the 14 independent
Caricom member states who will participate in the selection. The
leading candidates are considered the Chilean and Mexican officials
with Chile aggressively courting Caricom support by even sending its
President Ricardo Lagos on a first ever good-will tour of the
sub-region. On the other hand, Mexico has long considered itself a
close friend to the Caricom states and its President Vicente Fox was a
guest of honor at an earlier Bahamas summit. Mexico achieved its seat
on the United Nations Security Council with the support of Caricom.
The contest is expected to be intense. Chile’s new Caribbean thrust has
impressed many as well. El Salvador’s Flores is considered a distant
third in the race because of the support he has from President U.S.
George W. Bush. It has been received cooly by some in the region. El
Salvador, along with the Dominican Republic and Honduras, were the only
supporters of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in the hemisphere and sent
troops there.
Hardbeatnews.com
