Ambassador Colin Murdoch calls for US to comply with WTO Panel Ruling

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During a meeting today of the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council, its highest decision-making body, the representative of the OECS member states of the WTO called for

the United States to comply with the ruling of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in the case on the cross-border supply of gambling and betting services brought by Antigua and Barbuda as complainant.

The WTO General Council was conducting the fifteenth US Trade Policy Review, under which WTO member states reviewed reports by the US and the WTO Secretariat on US trade policy, and a record number of speakers took the floor to comment on the reports and to pose questions to the US delegation.

The OECS ambassador at the WTO and head of the OECS mission in Geneva, HE Colin Murdoch, took the US to task for its failure to reach a final settlement with Antigua and Barbuda in the case DS 285 which has been outstanding for many years.

While acknowledging the generally positive economic relationship between the US and OECS member states and the role played by the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) and the

Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) under which OECS members are eligible for duty-free access to the US market for a wide range of goods, Ambassador Murdoch urged the US to fully comply with the ruling of the WTO Appellate Body.

Ambassador Murdoch noted that while the majority of OECS members who are members of the WTO are also beneficiaries under the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) scheme, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis are not eligible due to their high per capita income classification.

Murdoch pointed out that GDP per capita income criteria do not provide an accurate picture of a country’s economy or its development status.

He stated that OECS countries, at the highest level, continue to advocate on this issue at various international fora.

The sessions of the WTO General Council continue on Monday.

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8 COMMENTS

  1. On this day 19 years ago, our beloved daughter, sister, niece, friend and classmate TESSA BARTHLEY was SHOT IN HER NECK by UPP candidate SHERFIELD BOWEN. He robbed not only us, but an entire community and nation of two patriots. Our hearts continue to grieve and break at the senseless death of our loved one by an officer of the court. Justice was miscarried, but we know that a day is coming. He robbed us of our kind, fun, caring and hardworking princess, but he cannot rob us of the beautiful memories we shared. ❤️

    • We have been calling and fighting for reparation now for decades and yes some of us have even lost hope that it will ever happen. But it is those of us that have not lost faith and kept fighting the fight, it is where we are today that some countries and institutions are starting to recognize that one day justice must be served.
      When a year ago the PM wrote to Harvard demanding that they find a way to make good on their role in the slave trade, many of you laughed. Today UWI Five Island has special relationship with Harvard because of that, and Antiguans can follow classes from Harvard right here at home as if they were at Harvard. So, you can remain pessimistic and think it cannot be done. One day you will be proved to be wrong.

  2. IF YOU CAN’T COLLECT THIS, TELL ME HOW THE HELL YOU COLLECTING DAMAGES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE. SOMEBODY JUST TELL THE TOP DAWY STOP POUNDING AND STOP BIG UP HE CHEST

  4. Why do you look so unhappy?
    The Dog making you do things you don’t want to do? Has he been pointing his hand in your face and wagging his finger like he did to the GG? You guys are now understanding the quagmire you all jumped into for position, aren’t you?

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