Antigua seeks trade sanctions against U.S.
Antigua and Barbuda Tuesday asked the World Trade Organization to impose $3.4 billion in commercial sanctions against the United States for failure to comply with an earlier ruling that U.S. Internet gambling restrictions are illegal.
The request is the latest effort by the two-island Caribbean nation get the United States to change its online gaming laws. It had won an earlier challenge before the WTO, but the United States has yet to lift its restrictions. Antigua and Barbuda is the home to online gambling companies that want unfettered access to U.S. customers.
The United States has acknowledged that its online betting rules were ruled illegal by the WTO and is in the process of negotiating settlements related to the ruling. The Associated Press reported that U.S. trade lawyer Juan Millan told the WTO's dispute settlement arm that Antigua does not have the right to seek retaliatory damages, and added the damage request is 'patently excessive' because it is 'several times higher' than Antigua's gross domestic product.
Antigua seeks trade sanctions against U.S.
