Qatar has filed a complaint against Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) around the measures taken by its three neighbours to economically isolate the country.
The complaint has alleged that measures such as the ban or restriction of vessels and flights travelling to or from Qatar from using ports of entry breaches the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994). This as it “restricts the trade of goods and services, and infringes on trade-related intellectual property rights”.
The country noted that the placement of prohibitions and restrictions on imports and exports from Qatar without the corresponding action on similar products from other countries was inconsistent with the obligations under GATT 1994.
Qatar has requested dispute consultations – a formal initiation of a dispute which allows parties to find a satisfactory solution before proceeding with legal action – and is expecting a reply from the three Gulf countries within ten days of their receiving this request.
