Costa Rica Files for New
WTO Arbitration Against
US
The ongoing
international internet
gambling dispute against
the US by Costa Rica and
Antigua reached a new
level this week as both
countries filed
separately for World
Trade Organization
arbitration, seeking
compensation in response
to the US’s withdrawal
from their commitment to
cross border gambling
services.
It is thought that this
latest action is a final
attempt for these
countries to gain a fair
settlement in this
dispute.
Late last year the WTO
ruled that Antigua could
suspend intellectual
property obligations to
the US up to a value of
us$21million per year,
and the US negotiated
further settlements with
four of the eight
nations claiming
compensation, Japan,
Canada, Australia and
the EU.
The arbitration filing
by Costa Rica and
Antigua however clears
the way for those
countries to reconsider
their settlement and
file individual
arbitration applications
themselves, putting more
pressure on the US to
consider a more
meaningful compensation
package to all
countries.
Jeffrey Sandman,
spokesperson for the
Safe and Secure Internet
Gambling Initiative
said: "It is time for
the US to end its
hypocritical practices
that discriminate
against foreign online
gambling operators,
while allowing U.S.
gambling operators to
accept bets for certain
forms of gambling.
Regulation of Internet
gambling should be
supported as a means to
resolve this trade
dispute."
It remains to be seen
whether the US will
decide to withdraw from
its GATS (General
Agreements on Trade in
Services) commitments
and undermine the global
trading system, or if
the US can reach an
agreement to satisfy
everyone.
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