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Through 26 axes, Iraq is developing plans to develop its trade policy locally and globally.
6/21/2025
Baghdad - INA - Amina Al-Salami
The Ministry of Trade announced plans on Saturday to develop infrastructure by digitizing services to accelerate trade and reduce costs. While indicating that the next phase requires political will and economic stability to prepare Iraq for an effective partnership in the global economy, the Ministry emphasized the need to strike a balance between protecting the national economy and global openness, as well as preparing for accession to the World Trade Organization.
Ministry of Trade spokesman Mohammed Hanoun told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The Ministry of Trade's plans to develop Iraq's trade policy include updating the legal and legislative structure by reviewing existing trade laws to comply with the requirements for joining the World Trade Organization, such as the Consumer Protection Law, the Competition Law, and the Anti-Dumping and Subsidy Law, and enacting new laws regulating intellectual property, e-commerce, and data protection, which are among the requirements of a modern market environment."
He pointed out that "the Ministry has adopted a more open and diversified trade policy by restructuring its trade policy to ensure a balance between protecting national products and opening up to international markets, expanding bilateral and multilateral trade partnerships, particularly with Arab countries, neighboring countries, and European and Asian markets, in addition to simplifying foreign trade procedures and reducing non-tariff barriers to facilitate the entry and exit of goods and services."
Hanoun pointed to "supporting and developing the private sector by enabling it to become a true partner in commercial activity by providing export incentives, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises capable of entering foreign markets, and qualifying local industries to compete regionally and internationally."
He explained that "developing the trade infrastructure by digitizing commercial services (such as company registration, issuing certificates of origin, and commercial contracts), developing the international exhibition system, activating the role of the General Company for Exhibitions to support the promotion of Iraqi products, and improving the performance of ports and border crossings in coordination with other entities to accelerate trade flow and reduce costs."
He added, "The development plans also include joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), resuming technical negotiations with the organization by updating the Iraqi accession file (which was frozen for long periods), and submitting offers on customs tariffs and market services, in accordance with the organization's requirements, in addition to building the capacity of technical cadres in the Ministry of Trade and related institutions to enable Iraq to negotiate efficiently, while coordinating with other ministries to prepare the economic and administrative environment in line with WTO standards."
He explained that "the plans also include transparency and business governance by enhancing the principle of transparency in commercial data through the regular publication of reports, prices, and indicators, and combating corruption and monopoly in the local market by activating regulatory bodies and implementing competition laws."
He continued, "We seek to achieve a balance between protecting the national economy and global openness, with a focus on preparing Iraq to join the World Trade Organization through legislative and institutional reforms, empowering the private sector, and developing the trade and services environment." He noted that "the next phase requires political will, economic stability, and comprehensive national coordination to qualify Iraq to be an effective partner in the global economy."
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