(AP photo)DUBAI -- Qatar has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation against three of the four Arab countries that are isolating it, opening up a possible new path for negotiations with its opponents. It argues the boycott hurts not only Qatar, which is the world's biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas, but also its trading partners. Qatar has rejected a tough 13-point list of demands from the Arab bloc, arguing that accepting them wholesale would undermine its sovereignty. Fellow Gulf state Kuwait is mediating the crisis, but it and Western-led diplomatic efforts have so far failed to secure a breakthrough. The boycott has dramatically driven up costs to import food, medicine and likely even building materials that Qatar needs for extensive infrastructure projects.

Source: Bangkok Post August 01, 2017 08:03 UTC