Warnings of escalating public anger following tax and customs duty hikes
Economic expert Ahmed Al-Tamimi warned on Monday (January 12, 2026) of the possibility of escalating public anger in Iraq due to the government's decisions to raise taxes and customs duties, coinciding with rising prices of basic commodities in the markets, which increases the pressure on the living standards of citizens, especially those with limited income.
Al-Tamimi told Baghdad Today: “Any increase in taxes or customs duties, if not accompanied by clear social protection measures, will directly affect the prices of goods and services, because the merchant and the importer will pass on the cost of the increase to the end consumer, while the Iraqi citizen is already suffering from the erosion of income as a result of inflation and the high cost of living.”
He added that “the Iraqi public is sensitive to economic decisions that affect livelihoods, and such measures could turn from an economic issue into a social and perhaps political crisis if they are not managed wisely and transparently.”
He pointed out that “raising customs duties may be financially justified to support non-oil revenues, but the current timing is not appropriate due to weak market control and the absence of local alternatives capable of meeting market needs, which leads to higher prices without a tangible improvement in services or income levels.”
Al-Tamimi stressed that “continuing this approach without societal dialogue or governmental clarification will increase public discontent, especially with citizens feeling that the economic burdens fall on them alone, in light of the absence of real reforms to combat waste and corruption and improve financial management.”
For his part, economist Ziad Al-Hashemi believes that implementing the new customs system and imposing customs duties, along with regulating remittances through a unified governance system, represents a correct and initial step in the right direction, but he stressed that the problem lies in the implementation mechanism and the state’s management of the transition process from the previous situation to the new system.
Al-Hashemi explained in a statement to “Baghdad Today” on Sunday (January 11, 2026) that “the rapid and comprehensive application of the system has led to confusion in Iraqi markets and has directly affected citizens,” noting the need for “the government to reassess the implementation mechanism, and perhaps introduce amendments to mitigate the damage caused by the speed of implementation.”
He added that "the solution lies in adopting a phased implementation mechanism, starting with focusing on specific priority goods, reviewing the customs duties imposed on them, and monitoring the repercussions of this phase before moving on to other goods, so that the process is carried out in several stages that allow for absorbing the change and reducing the damage to society, markets and traders, in addition to its impact on supply and demand."
Al-Hashemi stressed that “the gradual approach helps the government achieve its goals in controlling remittances and commercial operations and achieving non-oil revenues that support public finances, while at the same time giving traders an opportunity to rearrange their situations and the volume of goods, and sparing the consumer the shock of a sudden rise in prices in the markets.”
He concluded by saying that "this well-thought-out approach will ensure a smooth transition to the new system," expressing his hope that the government will adopt this path during the next phase to ensure market stability and protect the citizen. link
