Baghdad: The Department of Foreign Economic Relations at the Ministry of Trade held a consultative meeting today with the General Authority of Customs, as part of the Ministry’s efforts to follow up on the Republic of Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization, paving the way for the fourth round of negotiations.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry stated in a press release that the meeting addressed and discussed the latest developments in the accession process, particularly regarding the customs tariff schedule, the goods covered, and the applicable duty rates, in light of recent government updates and decisions. The impact of these decisions on regulating the customs tariff structure and aligning it with the requirements and standards of the World Trade Organization was also discussed.

The statement indicated that the meeting focused on finalizing the technical aspects of the file to reflect Iraq’s commitment to international standards, enhance transparency, facilitate the flow of trade, and strengthen Iraq’s negotiating position in the fourth round of negotiations.

It added that the General Authority of Customs plays a pivotal role in completing the initial goods offering file by updating technical data and customs tariffs, in preparation for its submission during the fourth round of negotiations. This will enhance Iraq’s readiness to enter advanced stages of negotiations.

The statement noted that this meeting is part of a series of ongoing coordination meetings between the Ministry of Trade, the General Authority of Customs, and relevant entities, aimed at unifying technical perspectives and preparing a comprehensive file to represent Iraq in the advanced stages of its accession to the World Trade Organization, ensuring its readiness to participate in the upcoming rounds. Advanced negotiations.