Antigua has long been in a feud with the US over the superpower’s attitude towards internet gambling, after the WTO ruled that the US position broke internationally agreed trade regulations.

The Minster of Finace, Cr Errol Cort, had just returned from a visit to the US to try and persuade the country to accept the WTO ruling and discovered to his dismay to underhand way in which the anti-gambling bill had been passed.

“It is remarkable that on the heels of our visit, during the course of which we highlighted the desire of Antigua to amicably work together with the United States Government in ensuring the safe delivery of these services to consumers in America, the Congress should choose to further protect their remote domestic industry at the cost of countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, where these services are highly regulated.”