14-06-2006 Antigua and Barbuda push for WTO panel

The Caribbean country has taken the first step toward establishing a World Trade Organization panel to investigate whether US laws comply with international trade rules.

Antigua said the US have failed to comply with the recommendations and rulings of the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO, which last year stated that allowing remote gambling on horse racing while banning the supply of internet gambling services from foreign providers was discriminatory.

According to the US Justice Department, US laws are already in compliance and do not discriminate against foreign suppliers because domestic suppliers are equally restricted in offering services across state boundaries.

Antigua also said the Goodlatte and Leach bills, which will go to the US House of Representatives for final consideration later this year, also violate international trade laws established by the WTO. Kaye MacDonald, Director of the Division of Gaming in the Directorate of Offshore Gaming, said earlier last month that "the Goodlatte Bill does not actually target US citizens who engage in internet gambling but is limited only to the offshore companies that offer online gambling."