Antigua and Barbuda’s attorney at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Mark Mendel says he does not expect December’s disappointing USD 21 million arbitrated award to affect the results of a second arbitration process between the two countries. Late last month Antigua and Barbuda filed a notice at the WTO requesting arbitration on the issue of the US declaration that it is withdrawing from its General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) commitment that allows trade access in respect of remote gaming.

The United States continues to resist compliance with a World Trade Organization ruling regarding the double standards inherent in US online gambling regulations. In addition to reaching settlement with Antigua, the US will also have to negotiate settlements with several other countries. The Antigua Sun printed excerpts of an interview with an official from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office which outlined the basic US strategy for resisting the ruling.