The Blockade Imposed Against Qatar: An Analytical Study of WTO Principles

Abstract

This analytical study sheds light on the consequences of the blockade imposed against Qatar and the violation of the blockading countries – the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt – of trade and economic agreements under the World Trade Organization (WTO). It also focuses on the legal basis of Qatar’s filed complaints against KSA, UAE, and Bahrain, WTO’s Dispute Settlement Procedures and jurisdiction, and the national security exceptions, as well as the main principles of the WTO treaties including General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).