By John Lee. Iraqi customs revenues are expected to reach 4 trillion dinars ($3.05 billion) by the end of 2025, up from around 800 billion dinars ($610 million) before the introduction of the ASYCUDA (Automated System for Customs Data) system in 2022. The director-general of the General Customs Authority, Thamer Qasim (pictured), attributed the rise […]
By John Lee. Plans to expand Iraq's customs automation system and introduce pre-payment of customs duties are under active review. Finance Minister Faleh Sari chaired a meeting on Wednesday with officials from the General Customs Authority and experts from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to discuss next steps. According to the […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Trade has begun updating its Initial Goods Offer file as part of the technical requirements for the country's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The work is being carried out by the Goods Trade Committee, a technical sub-committee of the national committee overseeing WTO accession, in coordination with […]
By John Lee. The Ministry of Industry and Minerals has held a meeting to discuss the regulation of motorcycle and spare parts imports, chaired by the ministry's Undersecretary for Planning Affairs and head of the technical team studying the import ban policy, Ahmed Abdul Jabbar Al-Karim. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministries […]
By John Lee. Iraq's General Customs Authority has reportedly completed the automation of 25 customs centres and is preparing to launch a single-window electronic system linking it with 15 government ministries and departments. Its Director-General, Thamer Qasim Daoud Al-Shiryan, told the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the Minister of Finance had formally instructed the […]
From Kapita Research. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's 2026 Customs Reset Iraq's main ports have been partially paralyzed since the start of 2026. The cause is not a physical blockade but the activation of a new digital customs system […]
By John Lee. Iraq's General Customs Authority has announced temporary exceptional measures to accelerate the flow of goods and reduce congestion at ports. According to state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), the authority said the measures were adopted in line with directives from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and in response to exceptional regional conditions affecting ports […]
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Beleaguered by low oil prices, Iraq moves to curtail customs evasion A new scheme aimed at combating customs evasion has triggered nationwide protests and strikes in Iraq. Traders say the new regulations have […]
By John Lee. Iraq's General Customs Authority has approved new mechanisms for calculating the customs value of imported goods. The mechanisms will be applied across all customs centres and include the following measures: Adoption of the customs value stated in duly declared commercial invoices submitted under the advance declaration system, supported by bank transfers, at […]
By John Lee. Iraq's General Customs Authority has reported its highest-ever monthly customs revenues, exceeding IQD 137 billion (USD 105 million) in January 2026, reflecting the impact of recent regulatory and administrative reforms. The Authority said the increase followed the full implementation of Decision No. 957 across all customs centres, improving revenue collection efficiency and […]
By John Lee. As part of efforts to protect domestic industry, the Iraqi Cabinet has approved the imposition of an additional 20% customs duty on imported aluminium cans used for carbonated beverages, juices, and energy drinks. This brings the total tariff to 50% per unit of measurement, applicable to imports from all countries and origins. […]
By John Lee. With the TIR system now live in Iraq since April 2025, the Minister of Transport and industry leaders officially marked this milestone this week in Baghdad, signalling a new era for international logistics and trade. The official launch of the global TIR transit system in Baghdad brought together the public and private […]
