Statement by the GCO on Protecting the Safety of Consumers and to Combat Improper Trafficking of Goods
On 5 June 2017, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Eygpt unexpectedly announced that they would close its land and sea borders, as well as its airports, territory and airspace, to goods destined for Qatar. These measures impacted all goods passing across (or that could pass across). They further subsequently adopted a series of ancillary restrictions and arbitrary exceptions.
To protect the safety of consumers in the State of Qatar and to combat improper trafficking of goods, the Government issued a directive to find new suppliers of the variety of goods impacted. Products originating from the blockading states, which as a result of the blockade cannot pass the GCC Customs Territory, has to undergo proper import inspections and customs procedures. Qatar conducts its trade policy in accordance with all of its multilateral and bilateral agreements.