Antigua & Barbuda Póker. Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda Sir Rodney Williams (pictured) ushered in a new session of the nation’s parliament by delivering his office’s traditional Throne speech. Among the topics the Governor-General addressed was the country’s longstanding trade dispute with the United States over online gambling.
Antigua and Barbuda is optimistic that a Donald Trump Administration could finally lead to the end of a decade-long online gaming dispute with the United States. A dispute that it was rejected on August 2016.The decision to reject the offer came after there was word that it would be accepted early this year. According to a report from the Antigua Observer, the country is currently considering a counter-offer, which could come in just days; Williams, believes that Trump will move to resolve the matter in a way that’s satisfactory to his government.
“My government believes that the new administration that is about to take office will recognize the lawfulness and justness of our actions and will quickly settle the differences that have kept our negotiators apart," Williams said prior to Trump’s inauguration.
“Hopefully the U.S. would not turn to intimidation and revenge.”
Over 10 years ago, the World Trade Organization determined that the U.S. violated international trade law when it cracked down on online gambling sites, which were serving Americans, operating out of Antigua and Barbuda. The country said the U.S. had effectively shut down $3 billion worth of economic output. The WTO awarded the nation just $21 million, but the U.S. never paid.
Later, the WTO said Antigua and Barbuda could violate U.S. intellectual property rights as a form of compensation, though the nation never implemented that strategy. Antigua and Barbuda wants about $200 million from the U.S.
A settlement offer was rejected as recently as last year.
