ANTIGUA SUN NEWSPAPER: Antigua lodges fresh complaint against the US

[clevfan]

Antigua lodges fresh complaint against the US

Wednesday February 14 2007
ANTIGUA SUN


Minister of Finance and the Economy Dr. Errol Cort revealed yesterday that Antigua & Barbuda had lodged a complaint with the WTO over leaks from US officials on what was intended to be a confidential preliminary report.

The final report of the World Trade Organisation (WTO’s) Dispute Settlement Body on the Internet gambling quarrel between Antigua & Barbuda and the United States is due to be released tomorrow.

“The WTO had specifically said to all parities that… no party should say anything in respect of the matter. Unfortunately the US has gone and they have said a lot of things and we have protested.

"We’ve written to the WTO that while all parities were asked to remain confidential in terms of the interim report, we have kept our side, but the US has not,” he said.

He said that the WTO has since reiterated its request to both parties that the report remain confidential until it is published.

He said that he expects to issue a full statement on the report and its impact on the local gaming industry once it is made public tomorrow.

[Highwayman]

Can’t fault the US Government for rightfully claiming responsibility in protecting their citizens from being robbed by an unethical offshore gaming industry masquerading as legitimate business entities…the offshore gaming ruse has officially ended for American gamblers.




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[niltes]

if the US government cared one iota about the average gambler, they would have almost every tout (except dr bob) and scamdicapper who markets themselves frauduently, thrown behind bars for life in a cell with big bubba.

[Dell Dude]

This has made me wonder whether a person can buy alcohol online from a non US business? Or cigarettes? Never heard of this but it would be a similar situation. What this is, is protectionism - the opposite of free trade. Only it is with respect to internet commerce. ACLU is really asleep at the wheel. This stuff has broad consequences. It's more than just about online gambling. My position is the US has no authority or jurisdiction to ban or regulate offshore internet commerce. Their only option is to compete against it in the marketplace. But I guess that makes me an unpatriotic criminal.

[Dell Dude]

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Well, there's my answer. Based on the Unlawful Internet Gaming Act of 2006, this could be criminalized at the whim of any idiot Senator from Tennessee if it isn't already...

[Dell Dude]

I guess they don't ship to United States. Still an intriguing parallel...

[buddyboy]

importing smokes or booze??? gonna have to pay your taxes unless it's duty free....

[Dell Dude]

I want to find the legality of this. I'm curious now. I'm guessing it has to be illegal since I'm pretty sure you can't buy booze and smokes online from an American company. Sorta the same concept: a controversial product or activity that is heavily regulated in the United States but not allowed online. Never head of anyone buying this stuff online. Same legal gray area whether the government has the right to ban online purchases and delivery based offshore...

[drunkguy]

Originally Posted by Dell Dude

I want to find the legality of this. I'm curious now. I'm guessing it has to be illegal since I'm pretty sure you can't buy booze and smokes online from an American company. Sorta the same concept: a controversial product or activity that is heavily regulated in the United States but not allowed online. Never head of anyone buying this stuff online. Same legal gray area whether the government has the right to ban online purchases and delivery based offshore...

I but cigarettes online all the time from Europe

yes they probably want taxes on it, but fuck 'em they can come find me if they want it

[Dell Dude]

Originally Posted by drunkguy

I but cigarettes online all the time from Europe

yes they probably want taxes on it, but fuck 'em they can come find me if they want it

That is shocking to me. Right there is a huge inconsistency. If it is illegal to place bets online, how can it be legal to purchase drugs? Nicotine is a proven drug. And it's dangerous. That's a fact. Couldn't kids buy this stuff online just like they could gamble? I know it's not regulated. Interesting.

[Dell Dude]

Online pornography is another one. There actually are porno sites based within the United States. Why don't they pass a law banning that? Order the banks not to process any porn related purchase. They did it with gambling. But why? Why gambling? I don't understand. Not when there are worse things online. Only thing I can think of is people like Calvin Ayre shoving it in their faces on TV and newspapers and magazines. The precedent has been set. They just have to pass a law banning something then turn the water fountain funding off. They have gone after online gambling like terrorists. Hunting them down all over the world. It's really baffling.