Qatar Embargo Appears in Full Effect Despite Recent Reports, Law Firm Says
A trade embargo on Qatar by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt remains in effect, despite some recent reports that restrictions had been loosened, law firm Baker McKenzie said in a blog post. Those reports were based on readings of circulars from UAE ports that were “inaccurate and misconstrued,” and the UAE Federal Customs Authority says there “has been no recent development in relation to the Qatar boycott,” the blog post said. “In light of these statements and until further information becomes available or the situation is further clarified by the [UAE Federal Transport Authority] or the customs authorities in the UAE, parties should continue to operate on the basis that there has been no relief or relaxation of the boycott whether on the part of the UAE or Qatar,” Baker McKenzie said.
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Put in place in 2017 amid a diplomatic spat, the embargo bans the unloading of Qatari cargo at UAE ports, the loading of cargo in the UAE bound for Qatar, and the passage of Qatari-flagged or owned vessels through UAE ports. Qatar, for its part, rejects or delays imports “where documentation submitted to clear the goods for import refer to or have any nexus with any of the Boycotting States,” Baker McKenzie said. “The dispute between the Boycotting States and Qatar is unlikely to be resolved anytime in the foreseeable future,” it said.