Some newspapers reported that the four Arab countries that imposed sanctions on Qatar also told the United States that US companies doing business with Doha would be at a disadvantage in the whole area. Foreign companies, in fact, have become increasingly cautious with regard to their cross-border transactions as concerns are raised throughout the area for the ongoing diplomatic crisis, the heaviest ever seen in the history of the Arabian region. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain sent a letter to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in July to reassure him that US companies would not be discriminated against, according to sources who viewed the letter. . The European Union has also shown concern over similar "official ... verbal statements" by the United Arab Emirates. The US embassy in Abu Dhabi, however, declined to comment on the letter.
The only certain aspect is that Tillerson paid a four-day visit to the region last July, where he met with both representatives of the disputing parties and proposed to contribute to mediation and to end the crisis.
The four Arab countries cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar on June 5, suspending air and sea routes with the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas and the home of the region's largest US military base. They also imposed 13 points, including the closure of Al Jazeera television, the severance of relations with Iran and Turkey. Points deemed unacceptable by Doha, as they are deemed to be harmful to the sovereignty of Qatar. The four Arab countries have imposed such sanctions as they accuse Doha of supporting Islamic terrorist groups.
THE LARGE CONTRACTS TO BE MADE IN THE AREA AND THE CONCERNS OF MULTINATIONALS
EUA Minister of Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on July 17 that the UAE does not ask foreign companies to choose between business with the UAE or Qatar.
This was followed by remarks by EUA Ambassador to Russia Omar Ghobash to the British Guardian newspaper on 28 June. He would have said that foreign companies could choose who to do business with without problems but this would have generated a new series of sanctions for Qatar.
The major US companies have large investments in both sides of the dispute and there are big contracts to compete and win in rich Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, signed $ XNUMX billion worth of trade deals with US companies during US President Donald Trump's visit to Riyadh last May.
US airlines, customers of Boeing, are present in both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Many American companies in business with Doha, which will host the World Cup in 2022. Doha is also looking for partners for a huge expansion of gas production.
Some companies have taken steps to restructure their operations in the Middle East by transferring their regional headquarters not to Qatar but to Dubai.
However, today, there are no problems with US companies in business with Doha. Apparently the statement by the Saudi dignitaries had no effect on the business.