Tag Archives | customs

Govt to Clamp Down on Corruption at Umm Qasr Port

By John Lee. The Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed S. Al-Sudani, has approved the recommendations of a committee investigating corruption in the Umm Qasr port. The committee found that private companies operating at the General Company for Iraqi Ports were charging additional fees not approved by the Ministry of Transportation, leading to increased prices for […]

Iraqi Govt approves Protectionist Measures Against Imports

By John Lee. Iraq's Council of Ministers has approved a list of additional import taxes aimed at protecting domestic producers: Imposing an additional customs fee of 65% on "epoxies and modern dyes" imported into Iraq from all countries and manufacturers for four years without reducing it and monitoring the local market while applying the additional […]

Customs and Tax Automation Project completes Implementation Stages

By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Finance, Taif Sami Mohammed, has held a meeting on the follow-up to the implementation of the automation project for customs and tax. The Minister said: "The completion of the automation project will contribute to the development of customs departments and improve their performance, by adopting a single window, modernizing […]

Iraq Extends Suspension of Customs Duties on some goods

By John Lee. Iraq has extended its suspension of customs duties on basic commodities such as foodstuffs, construction materials and essential consumables from two months to three months. It has also similarly extended its suspension of the import ban on some goods, including foodstuffs, consumables, and medicines from two months to three months. The initial […]

Safwan Border Crossing Re-Opened

By John Lee. Iraq's General Customs Authority has announced the reopening of the Safwan/Abdali border crossing between Iraq and Kuwait. The crossing had previously been closed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Designs were completed earlier this year for a redevelopment of the crossing. (Source: General Customs Authority)

IMF Report into Iraq's Customs and Tariffs

By John Lee. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has published a new report into Iraq's customs and tariff arrangements. This report summarizes key findings and recommendations from a remote technical assistance (TA) assignment performed by a short-term expert (STX), Mr. Djamel Bouhabel, from January 17 to February 4, 2021, to the General Customs Authority of […]

Iraq Automates Customs Service to Reduce Corruption

By Salam Zidane for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq automates its customs service to reduce corruption at border crossings The Iraqi government has taken several new initiatives to fight corruption, from automating border crossings, arresting corrupt figures […]

Iran, Iraq Agreement on Customs, Joint Investment

Ministerial delegations from Iran and Iraq agreed on plans to promote cooperation on customs affairs, pave the way for joint investment, and expand the capacity for transportation between the two neighboring countries. After two rounds of meetings on Saturday, delegations led by Iranian Economy Minister Farhad Dejpasand and Iraq's Finance Minister Ali Abdul-Amir Allawi reached […]

Nineveh-Duhok Customs Post Removed

By John Lee. The Iraqi government has reportedly removed the Fayida customs post between Mosul and Duhok province on Tuesday, following a parliamentary vote that deemed the customs points illegal and ordered their removal. According to Rudaw, the checkpoint, along with two others established by former Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi between Sulaimani and Kirkuk and […]

KRG and Iraqi Customs Duties to be Unified

By John Lee. Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) will reportedly soon unify customs duties to streamline the system and prevent the double taxation of the Kurdistan Region’s businessmen. According to Rudaw, Erbil and Baghdad have two different customs fees, causing disputes between the two aresa. They previously reached a preliminary agreement on unifying […]