U.S. And Antigua Headed Towards Internet Gambling Resolution

The United States is not very good at admitting when they are wrong. Most of the time they simply skew the truth to make other countries wrong in disputes. In the ongoing battle with Antigua over Internet gambling, they are wrong, and they know it.

Maybe that is why representatives from the United States flew to Antigua this week to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing battle between the two countries. The reports are that a deal is close, and a resolution to this ongoing feud could occur in the next few days.

The conflict between Antigua and the United States started when the U.S. stopped allowing financial institutions to process online payments to companies not located in the U.S.. Antigua claims that the Americans severely hurt their online gambling industry financially.

The U.S. has already lost a case and was ordered to pay Antigua, which they have yet to do. The two have had several deadlines set to resolve the dispute by the World Trade Organization, but all three of those deadlines have come and gone without a resolution.

On Monday, Deputy United States Trade Representative Ambassador John Veroneau and a group of Americans arrived in Antigua. Antigua Finance and Economy Minister Dr. Errol Cort and Veroneau are both hopeful an agreement can be reached this week.

"I think it is a positive sign that a very high level U.S. delegation is visiting Antigua and Barbuda to engage in these talks," said Cort.



2008-07-15