Mark Mendel, winning trade attorney for Antigua & Barbuda in their WTO case against the United States - over a protectionist US Internet gambling law passed in late 2006 - said today that he expects a decision on their 3.4 billion USD/per year compensation claim from a WTO panel on 30 November 2007.
USA says thatthey will pay $500,000 in compensation, because $3.4b is more than Antigua’s entire yearly economy.
But the funny part is that Antigua could be awared by the WTO panel with possibility to sell US copyrighted material to get their money claimed.
The World Trade Organisation has ruled that the US has acted illegally, but instead of updating the UIEGA in line with the ruling, the United States government has looked towards withdrawal from the World Trade Organisation obligations in this matter.
See also this interesting article by Ed Brayton
Update - 8.11
It appears that the date has been postponed for 14 December, giving more time for US to negotiate with the countries that have filed for damages : European Union, India, Antigua and Barbuda, Japan, Costa Rica, Macao, Canada and Australia.
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