Iraq continues its efforts to gain membership in the World Trade Organization, 2 MARCH

  Iraq continues its efforts to gain membership in the World Trade Organization

The Ministry of Commerce confirmed the government's aspiration to join the World Trade Organization, especially after the Saudi representative in the organization, Saqr Al-Muqbel, was named to manage Iraq's accession file, noting that his recent visit to Baghdad contributed to addressing a number of important files.

The ministry’s official spokesman, Muhammad Hanoun, said, “Iraq has joined as an observer in the World Trade Organization since 2004, and until 2023 this accession faced many problems and challenges, the most recent of which is the failure to pay dues to join the observer organization. However, after the announcement of the government program by Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Sudanese began working again on the possibility of Iraq joining this organization, as two sessions took place and a dialogue was held with the organization by the Iraqi negotiating team headed by the Minister of Trade, Atheer Al-Ghurairi, which included all the relevant Iraqi ministries and bodies.

Hanoun added, “The World Trade Organization assigned the Saudi representative to the organization, Saqr Al-Muqbel, to manage the file of Iraq’s accession, and he came to Baghdad on an important visit and met with the Iraqi negotiating team, and many issues were addressed, the most important of which were the files of goods and services, as well as the legislation that the Iraqi economic reform team in the Prime Minister’s Office would carry out.” By addressing it within the frameworks and legislation within which the World Trade Organization operates.”

He continued, "Joining will achieve many things for Iraq, most notably that it will support the file of Iraqi goods and facilitate their entry into global markets, and secondly, the harmonization of Iraqi laws and regulations with international laws and regulations," pointing out that "Iraq has today become a major economic player on the world level and needs to harmonize Iraqi laws with international laws." .

He stressed, “Minister of Trade Atheer Al-Ghurairi attended the third session of the World Trade Organization, which was held in the Emirate of Dubai in the UAE, and met with the Assistant Director-General of the organization. We believe that the meeting will achieve progress in achieving the government’s aspirations regarding accession in an accelerated manner,” appreciating “the Saudi efforts in overcoming many special obstacles.” Iraq's accession to the World Trade Organization. link