Hearing in Geneva on WTO Compensation

The World Trade Organization are holding a hearing on October 18th to work out just compensation for the nations who were affected by the United States withdrawal of treaty obligations. The meeting will take place in Geneva , Switzerland and will host a World Trade Organization panel that will listen to verbal submissions from Antigua, Barbuda and the U.S. governments. There will also be a chance for questions to be asked by all parties about the compensation.

After the panel discussion has taken place, the panel is believed to be going behind closed doors to mull over the information and come to an agreement on what compensation should be given for the United States failure to obey the earlier ruling of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body.

"I must say that I wanted to await the outcome, the opening session for the panel that has been set up to hear our further dispute at the WTO on Thursday," said Errol Cort, Minister Of Finance for Antigua. "So, I am still hopeful that we will meet when I get to Washington but I am awaiting initially the first impressions from our representatives in Geneva at the end of the first day of the hearing of the tribunal on Thursday."

Antigua had filed a claim against the United States for $3.4 billion for lost revenue due to the U.S. making online gambling illegal. The White House said that the billion dollar figure was not realistic and they would not pay it. They offered a measly $500,000 in compensation but the Antigua government refused. They stated that their claim was founded and substantial for their losses.