16-07-2007 Antigua abides!

Mark Mendel, Antigua's head counsel in the WTO dispute against the Unites States, told The Register he believes the case is heading to an arbitration to determine the trade concessions that Antigua can levy against the United States until they comply with the WTO ruling or negotiate a fair settlement.

"Antigua didn't bring this case so it can sell cheap Microsoft products or DVDs. This case was brought on behalf of a regulated, fair domestic gambling and betting industry. Antigua wants to be able to provide these services to American consumers, who very clearly want them," Mendel told Burke Hansen.

"While there is still large ground for compromise, at the end of the day Antigua wants and deserves to be able to offer these services on some agreed and rational basis. Let's hope that wisdom prevails here, and this whole dispute becomes just a footnote to WTO history rather than a defining moment," he added.