US Feeling Increasing Online Gambling Pressure - 06-21-07
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June 21 - It was not long ago that the small Caribbean island state of Antigua
and Barbuda received the backing of the World Trade Organization (WTO) with its
ruling that the UIGEA anti-online gambling act passed in the US last year
smacked of 'protectionism'.
Said US Trade Representative spokesperson, Gretchen Hamel, 'We will of course
continue to work closely with Antigua and Barbuda with the objective of trying
to find a mutually beneficial resolution to this long-standing dispute.'
Antigua and Barbuda have always argued that due to the online gambling ban
enforced in the United States, its online gambling industry has been affected
through the loss of many much-needed jobs for its citizens, putting increasing
pressure on its tourism industry.
Now it seems that many other countries from around the world are jumping on the
'WTO bandwagon' by calling for heavy sanctions to be enforced against
the United States, to the value of several billion dollars.
India and Japan are the latest countries to voice their support for the
sanctions against America, putting the super-power in a situation where it needs
to start addressing its perceived hypocritical attitude with regards to its international
trade agreements.
