UAE SAYS MEASURES AGAINST QATAR DO NOT VIOLATE WTO AGREEMENTS

DUBAI: Economic sanctions imposed on Qatar by three fellow Gulf states do not violate World Trade Organisation agreements, a UAE official said, after Doha launched a wide-ranging legal complaint at the Geneva-based body this week. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain cut ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of backing militant groups and arch foe Iran, allegations Doha denies. Juma Mohammed al-Kait, an assistant undersecretary in the UAE economy ministry, was quoted as saying that the boycott — which included the severing of diplomatic and travel ties — was in line with articles 21 and article 14 of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which allows such moves in the case of security exceptions.