The island nation of Antigua & Barbuda said it has gained the full support of its fellow CARICOM member states in its internet gambling dispute with the United States. Antigua has already filed formal trade sanctions against Washington on the matter for $3.4 billion in annual compensation to offset the islands losses to its internet gambling community and overall economy.
CARICOM is the Caribbean Community and Common Market associate that was created to given small island nations trading leverage against larger markets. The community is current having their 28th Heads of Government conference.
Antiguan Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer said leaders have thrown their full support behind Antigua and were calling on the United States to respect the World Trade Organization's recent ruling on the issue .
“This matter has been fully ventilated at the conference and the position of Caricom is that Antigua & Barbuda should be fully supported by Caricom in this matter because it should have serious implications for the region going forward as we seek to develop the financial services sector in the region.”
The WTO recently ruled against the United State in an internet gambling dispute with Antigua and stated that the actions taken by Washington prohibiting access to foreign internet gambling operators is illegal under international law. The World Trade Organization instructed the United States to bring its laws into conformity with its international trade agreements, however the United States has refused.
CARICOM is the Caribbean Community and Common Market associate that was created to given small island nations trading leverage against larger markets. The community is current having their 28th Heads of Government conference.
Antiguan Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer said leaders have thrown their full support behind Antigua and were calling on the United States to respect the World Trade Organization's recent ruling on the issue .
“This matter has been fully ventilated at the conference and the position of Caricom is that Antigua & Barbuda should be fully supported by Caricom in this matter because it should have serious implications for the region going forward as we seek to develop the financial services sector in the region.”
The WTO recently ruled against the United State in an internet gambling dispute with Antigua and stated that the actions taken by Washington prohibiting access to foreign internet gambling operators is illegal under international law. The World Trade Organization instructed the United States to bring its laws into conformity with its international trade agreements, however the United States has refused.