US-Antigua trade dispute exposes global inequity

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - AT their recent inter-sessional summit in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, Caribbean leaders called on the United States to comply with the ruling by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to end the long running dispute with Antigua on Internet gaming. They affirmed their “full support” for their CARICOM colleague in its fight against our giant neighbour to the north.
However, if past behaviour is any guide to future action, sceptics would be justified
in believing that the Barack Obama Administration will not behave any differently
from its predecessors. Dare we hopethat President Obama will prove the sceptics
wrong? A positive outcome is important for the region and beyond, because compliance by Washington with the WTO ruling would help restore the faith of developing countries
that the international rules of trade apply equally to all nations without regard
to economic size or political influence.
The dispute started more than a decade ago when the US issued a ban on its citizens
participating in Internet gaming in “virtual” casino operations established in the small eastern Caribbean state of Antigua. Latest signs indicate that the positions
are hardening.