World Trade Organisation agrees to hear Qatar’s complaint against the UAE
In a major win for Qatar, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreed to hear Qatar’s complaint against the UAE over the ongoing illegal siege, which has been ongoing since June 5.
“The WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body agreed to establish a panel to rule on Qatar’s complaint regarding various measures imposed by the UAE restricting trade in goods and services with Qatar and the protection of Qatari intellectual property rights,” a statement from the Geneva-based trade body said, according to Qatar Tribune.
Qatar had gone on the offensive and lodged a complaint with the WTO and the trade body had later confirmed that it had received the complaint.
The World Trade Organisation has established a panel to decide on Qatar’s complaint, reported The Washington Post.
Qatar insists UAE’s actions violate its rights and those of other countries by denying freedom of transit to Qatar. The UAE has been arguing that the measures are allowed according to an exception under WTO rules for national security reasons.
In the initial WTO filing, Qatar had requested ‘consultations’ with the siege countries, a procedural move required by the Geneva-based organisation before a Dispute Settlement Body panel (DSB) can be set up.
Last month Doha made an initial request for a DSB to hear its case against the UAE. Abu Dhabi rejected that bid. Qatar then made the request a second time, which triggered the automatic creation of a panel.
