Qatar Files WTO Complaint Against Boycotting Nations

FIL E- The headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are pictured in Geneva, Switzerland, April 12, 2017.

Qatar has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization against three of the four countries that cut ties with the Gulf nation in June while accusing it of supporting terrorists.

The complaint calls for consultations with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, a formal process that triggers a 60-day window in order for the sides to resolve their differences through negotiations or face potential penalties.

The three nations, along with Egypt, cut diplomatic ties and severed air, land and sea links with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of supporting extremists.

Qatar has denied that it supports terrorism, and has also rejected a list of demands the four Arab nations have said must be met before they will lift their boycotts.

The Qatari complaint does not include Egypt, but does allege the other nations are committing certain trade violations and that their actions are affecting not only Qatar, but also its trade partners.