
As
you may be aware, online gambling has been under
attack by the United States for the last decade. The
Government of Antigua and Barbuda has successfully
challenged the malicious prosecution of Antiguan
operators in the World Trade Organization. The
WTO has found that the US's application of its
laws against Antiguan entities is protectionist
and in violation of the General Agreement on Trade
in Services. Read
full story here.
Now that Antigua has won the legal battle, it
can use political support in Congress. Here's
how you can help. Please email and phone
your representative in the House of Representatives
and your two Senators. Remind them that
the United States needs to abide by the decision
in the Antigua-Gambling matter if it expects other
countries to comply with WTO decisions in favor
of the United States.
Here is a link to a letter to the USTR from Representative
Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking Republican on the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs:
http://www.antiguawto.com/LettertoUSTR.pdf
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen eloquently noted, "...our failure
to resolve this dispute may harm our credibility
as we seek to press countries like China regarding
their violations on a range of issues, including
intellectual property protection, subsidies, and
currency manipulation." She further warned, "In
the event the United States fails to reach a satisfactory
resolution of the Antigua dispute, it could provide
China with an argument to ignore a WTO decision
favorable to the United States."
Please send the link above to your Representative
and Senators. Ask them to send similar letters
to the United States Trade Representative. Let
them know you vote, you pay taxes, and you think
the United States should comply with the decision
in the Antigua-Gambling matter.
To contact your Representative and two Senators,
follow the links below or call the Capitol switchboard
at (202) 224-3121 and give them your zip code. Make
sure you call three times.
http://www.house.gov/
http://www.senate.gov/
We will continue to fight the legal battle, please
help us with the political fight.
Thank you,
Antigua Online Gambling Association & Intertops.com
http://www.aoga.ag/ |