WTO Holds Meeting on Iraq's Accession to Trade Body After 16-Year Break
Iraq resumed its talks on accession to the World Trade Organization on July 18 following a 16-year break in the negotiating process. The WTO said Iraq "reaffirmed its pledge to join" the world body, while noting its "significant economic and legislative reforms."
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The chair of the Iraq Working Party talks, Saudi Arabia's Saqr Almoqbel, "invited Iraq and WTO members to intensify bilateral negotiations on market access," the WTO said. Interested members were told to submit specific questions in writing by Aug. 15. The chair also asked the WTO Secretariat to help revise Iraq's "Memorandum of the Foreign Trade Regime," which will be used to examine Iraq's foreign trade at the next working party meeting.
Iraq was also asked to revise its "Legislative Action Plan" and submit copies of legislation pertaining to the WTO to provide the working party with updates on "ongoing reforms." The chair suggested scheduling the next working party meeting for the first quarter of 2025.