Antigua poised for first meeting with US on WTO issue

[clevfan]

Antigua poised for first meeting with US on WTO issue

Wednesday May 18 2005
ANTIGUA SUN NEWSPAPER


Minister of Finance Dr. Errol Cort is on his way to Geneva, Switzerland for the first meeting with the US since the adoption of the final World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling from the appellate body.

When the final ruling was made public in April, both Antigua & Barbuda and the US claimed victory, though Dr. Cort and his team had also claimed the win on the basis that the US was required to bring its regulations in conformity with the GATS.

Dr. Cort told the SUN yesterday, that this would be the first opportunity both parities would be able to state their positions face to face.

"The critical issue to be discussed is for the US to indicate what it proposes to do to bring itself within the confines of the appellate decision, and based on what the US said, Antigua & Barbuda will have an opportunity to respond accordingly.

This is a very important meeting because it will give both sides the framework for the way forward," he said.

Dr. Cort will be leading the delegation that will include lead attorney Mark Mendel and Ambassador Dr. John Ashe.

The minister added that he was hopeful that "this meeting will provide the possibility for informal discussions with the US where both parties can sit down and discuss the issues bilaterally and get clear indication for what adjustments will be made and the timeframe of the adjustments."

Should the US prove stiff-necked in bowing to the final WTO ruling, Dr. Cort said any such attempts would be "strongly resisted." Based on the good relations that Antigua & Barbuda has with the US, Dr. Cort said he did not anticipate any hostility.

There had however been recent moves by a US, Senator Joh Kyl to prohibit the use of credit cards, wire transfers or other "instruments of banking" to fund online gambling transactions.