Antigua and Barbuda controversy
U.S. rejects World Trade gambling report
The United States says it fundamentally rejects a World Trade Organization report, released Wednesday, that found the United States' ban on international Internet gambling represents a violation of U.S. trade commitments, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Antigua and Barbuda filed a case before the World Trade Organization in 2003, contending that the U.S. restrictions on Internet gambling violated U.S. trade commitments. The 287-page report issued Wednesday confirmed a preliminary ruling in the Caribbean nation's favor.
U.S. trade officials rejected the report as "deeply flawed," and contend that the United States clearly intended to exclude gambling from the services commitments it made in 1995 trade negotiations.
The case revolves, in part, around which services the United States intended to commit in 1995 under the auspices of "other recreational activities."
In a briefing Wednesday, a senior U.S. trade official said that it is "inconceivable" to assert
that U.S. negotiators in 1995 intended to enter into commitments in violation of U.S. federal and state laws.
A trade spokesman, Richard Mills, echoed the sentiments of the senior U.S. trade official in a separate statement: "Throughout our history, the United States has had restrictions on gambling, like many other countries," he explained. "Given these restrictions, it defies common sense that the United States would make a commitment to let international gambling operate within our borders."
Both Mills and the senior trade official indicated that the United States will appeal the report, and they expressed confidence that the World Trade Organization appellate body will appreciate the concerns and reverse the ruling.
Antigua and Barbuda have argued that Internet gambling and sportsbooks are part of its 1990 development plan.
The trade panel said that 49 of 50 U.S. states maintain lotteries and that many other gambling outlets exist there. It also said that the intent of the United States in 1995 did not matter. What counted was the wording of the trade agreement.
U.S. rejects World Trade gambling report
The United States says it fundamentally rejects a World Trade Organization report, released Wednesday, that found the United States' ban on international Internet gambling represents a violation of U.S. trade commitments, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Antigua and Barbuda filed a case before the World Trade Organization in 2003, contending that the U.S. restrictions on Internet gambling violated U.S. trade commitments. The 287-page report issued Wednesday confirmed a preliminary ruling in the Caribbean nation's favor.
U.S. trade officials rejected the report as "deeply flawed," and contend that the United States clearly intended to exclude gambling from the services commitments it made in 1995 trade negotiations.
The case revolves, in part, around which services the United States intended to commit in 1995 under the auspices of "other recreational activities."
In a briefing Wednesday, a senior U.S. trade official said that it is "inconceivable" to assert
that U.S. negotiators in 1995 intended to enter into commitments in violation of U.S. federal and state laws.
A trade spokesman, Richard Mills, echoed the sentiments of the senior U.S. trade official in a separate statement: "Throughout our history, the United States has had restrictions on gambling, like many other countries," he explained. "Given these restrictions, it defies common sense that the United States would make a commitment to let international gambling operate within our borders."
Both Mills and the senior trade official indicated that the United States will appeal the report, and they expressed confidence that the World Trade Organization appellate body will appreciate the concerns and reverse the ruling.
Antigua and Barbuda have argued that Internet gambling and sportsbooks are part of its 1990 development plan.
The trade panel said that 49 of 50 U.S. states maintain lotteries and that many other gambling outlets exist there. It also said that the intent of the United States in 1995 did not matter. What counted was the wording of the trade agreement.
