SOURCE: www.antiguasun.com

The government has not yet confirmed an appointment with the United States Trades Representative’s office (USTR) to address the current Internet gaming dispute between Antigua and Barbuda and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Minister of Finance Dr. Errol Cort told the Antigua Sun that he is waiting on the outcome of the first session of a WTO hearing in Geneva which is scheduled for this Thursday before fixing a meeting at the USTR’s office.

At that session, the WTO panel will hear verbal submissions from both the U.S. and Antigua and Barbuda government and will get the chance to pose questions based on the arguments raised by both sides.

The arbitration panel is expected to enter the phase of deliberations after which it will rule on the matter of compensation for America’s failure to comply with the earlier rulings of the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body.

Cort said that after this meeting, he will be in a better position to address the issue as to exactly what position the country will take when he meets at the USTR office.

“I must say that I wanted to await the outcome, the opening session for the panel that has been set up to hear our further dispute at the WTO on Thursday,” Cort said.

“So, I am still hopeful that we will meet when I get to Washington but I am awaiting initially the first impressions from our representatives in Geneva at the end of the first day of the hearing of the tribunal on Thursday.”

On 8 Oct., Cort addressed the U.S. opposition of Antigua and Barbuda’s claim. In a submission filed with the WTO last month, the United States argued that the US$3.4 billion claim was exorbitant and “wildly out of line with any realistic figure.”

The U.S. has proposed $500,000 as more reasonable.

The finance minister has reiterated his position that the government hopes to be able to sit with representatives of the U.S. and examine the issue of compensation for the losses it suffered by way of taxes and employment generation from the thriving gaming sector.