Kurdistan Region backs joint customs deal, delegation to travel to Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Kurdistan Regional Government's Council of Ministers has expressed open support for a joint customs memorandum signed between federal and regional authorities, according to a regional government statement. A high-level delegation from the region is expected to travel to Baghdad next week to discuss customs and trade issues. The decision came at a Council of Ministers meeting chaired by Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and attended by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani. The meeting reviewed details of the joint memorandum on the implementation of the ASYCUDA system, signed in Baghdad on June 18, as presented by the regional government's technical committee. The Council of Ministers endorsed the agreement, which aims to unify and digitize customs procedures across Iraq, increase transparency in revenues at border crossings and accelerate trade. The Finance, Economy, Trade and Industry, Interior, Planning, Agriculture and Water Resources, and Health ministries were instructed to coordinate with federal counterparts. The regional government also called on the federal government to convene a meeting of the Council of Ministers for Economy at the earliest opportunity to grant final approval.