By John Lee. In support of the national project for producing commercial zero flour, the Iraqi government has approved the local sale of wheat to licensed public and private mills at prices equivalent to the import price of similar wheat delivered to Umm Qasr Port. This move aims to enhance local flour production and reduce […]
Tag Archives | customs
Iraqi Trade gets Boost from Digital Customs
From the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq: Trade and government revenue gets boost from digital customs Backed by UN Trade and Development, customs automation helps improve compliance and ease of trade in […]
Iraq Increases Import Tariffs on Steel
By John Lee. Iraq's Council of Ministers (Cabinet) has imposed n additional 20 percent customs duty on imported steel rebar (10-32 mm) from all sources. The new rate is effective for four years starting October 3, 2024, and applies to tariff code 72142000. The Ministry of Industry and Minerals will monitor import increases compared to […]
Automation causes Dramatically Increased Customs Revenues
By John Lee. Iraq's General Authority for Customs has announced a significane revenue increase for the first quarter of the current year, with expectations of doubling revenues upon completion of the automation project. The Authority's President, Hassan Al-Ugaili, told tate-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) that customs revenue increased by 28 percent from 2022 to 2023. […]
Iraqi Govt Reduces Import Duties on Livestock
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministerial Economic Council has reduced customs duties on live animals, including calves, sheep, and cattle, imported for slaughter or breeding purposes. The duties will be reduced to 2 percent for imported calves, sheep, and cattle intended for slaughter, and to 5 percent for those imported for breeding purposes. This decision will […]
Iraq Launches Customs Automation Project
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Finance, Taif Sami (pictured), inaugurated the Customs Automation Project as Umm Qasr Port on Sunday. The project aligns with the requirements of the global Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA), forming part of the Ministry's strategy to apply international customs standards. The system's implementation aims to achieve financial discipline, […]
Iraq Cuts Customs Duties on Live Animals
By John Lee. The Ministerial Council for the Economy, chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Fouad Hussein, has approved a request from the Ministry of Agriculture to reduce customs duties on live animals imported for slaughtering and breeding purposes. According to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), the decision was taken due to the high […]
Iraqi Customs Official Jailed; must Repay $60m
By John Lee. Iraq's Commission of Integrity has ordered five years "severe imprisonment" for the former Director of Customs at the Trebil (Tarbiel, Trebil) border crossing (pictured) between Iraq and Jordan. The director was also required to pay back 78 billion dinars ($60 million) to the state treasury. The decision was made following an investigation […]
Progress on Customs Automation in Iraq
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has presided over a meeting to monitor the progress of customs automation and network integration. The meeting included representatives from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). During the meeting, detailed reports on the first phase of implementing the global system for customs automation and […]
Iraq to charge Customs Duties/Taxes "Exclusively in Iraqi Dinars"
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has said that customs duties and taxes at border crossings will now be levied exclusively in Iraqi dinars instead of US dollars. Full statement from the KRG: According to Decree No. 227 of the Council of Ministers, dated September 20, 2023, customs duties and taxes at border […]
Increasing Security of Supply Chain at Baghdad Airport
Increasing the security of the trade supply chain at Baghdad International Airport On 10 September 2023, Iraq took a significant stride in bolstering trade supply chain security - concurrently targeting high-risk air cargo while facilitating the smooth flow of legitimate trade. In pursuit of this crucial objective, Iraqi authorities have joined forces with the United […]
Iraqi Bureaucracy Closes Hospitals in Mosul
By John Lee. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) [Doctors Without Borders] has closed two health facilities in Mosul, claiming that their work has been made impossible by the bureaucracy in Iraq. Full text of statement from MSF: MSF halts medical activities in Mosul due to administrative obstacles Essential medical activities have been suspended at two health […]