Caricom trade body urges US to comply with WTO gaming decision

The Caricom Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) has appealed to the United States to respect the decision of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body in the matter of Antigua and Barbuda and the US with respect to online gaming.

COTED made this appeal at its Thirty-Eight meeting held in Georgetown on May 9 and 10, a press release from the Caricom Secretariat said. The Council noted that the US has to date failed to comply with the decision of the tribunal and has also failed to reach a settlement with Antigua and Barbuda. “The Meeting urged the US to make additional efforts to reach a fair settlement,” the statement said.

The Council acknowledged that the case was long outstanding and could potentially undermine the credibility of the dispute settlement mechanism of the multilateral trading system.

In 2004, the WTO ruled in favour of Antigua and Barbuda after it challenged measures implemented by the US, which affected its cross-border supply of gambling and betting services.