The Minister of Trade responds to demands to cancel the customs increase: There is no price increase.
The Minister of Trade responds to demands to cancel the customs increase: There is no price increase.
2026-02-08 06:50
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Sunday, Trade Minister Atheer Dawood Al-Ghurairi responded to demands to abolish customs tariffs to reduce prices in the country, explaining that recent government measures aim to control border crossings, protect the national process, and prevent smuggling, while denying that there has been a significant increase in prices .
Al-Ghurairi said during a press conference held at the Al-Taawon Hypermarket branch in the Hay Al-Amel area that “the application of the ASYCUDA system and customs tariff aims to control border crossings, protect the national currency and prevent smuggling,” stressing that the recent increase in the tariff is “symbolic and does not exceed 5% and is applied in accordance with the legal frameworks in force in neighboring countries, and does not constitute any burden on the prices of goods in the markets .”
The Minister of Trade pointed out that “local markets are witnessing clear price stability with the availability of all food and consumer goods at subsidized prices, at a rate of no less than 20% lower than market prices, as part of the Ministry’s commitment to supporting citizens and maintaining price balance .”
Al-Ghurairi explained that “the Ministry of Commerce, through its marketing centers and in cooperation with the private sector, represents a key balancing factor to prevent any exploitation or unjustified price increases,” noting that “the rumors circulating about significant price increases have no basis in reality .”
The minister also pointed out “directing all cooperative hypermarket centers not to raise prices, while emphasizing that the ministry will not allow any violations,” noting “the launch of the food basket and flour, and the availability of supplies in quantities that exceed demand, especially with the approach of the holy month of Ramadan .”
Al-Ghurairi called on citizens and merchants to “not be swayed by malicious rumors,” stressing that “the government and the Ministry of Trade are continuously monitoring and controlling the markets and supplying them with all goods, and that government support continues to serve the citizen and support the honest merchant, in order to ensure market stability and secure supply chains without interruption .”
Member of Parliament Mohammed al-Khafaji announced earlier on Sunday that the Federal Court (the highest judicial authority in Iraq) had decided to set February 11 as the date for ruling on the appeal against the decision of the caretaker federal government to increase customs tariffs .
Meanwhile, MP Ibtisam Al-Hilali, from the State of Law Coalition, called on the Speaker of Parliament to include the issue of taxes and customs tariffs and their impact on the economic and living conditions of Iraqis due to the rise in prices of imported goods and commodities in local markets on the agenda of the parliamentary session scheduled to be held tomorrow, Monday .
This morning, dozens of merchants and shop owners demonstrated on Al-Nidal Street in front of the Customs Authority building in central Baghdad, protesting against the new customs tariff, demanding that it be canceled or amended to be in line with the reality of the local market .
On Sunday morning, Iraqis woke up to closed shops and markets after merchants announced a general strike in protest against the decision to raise customs tariffs in the capital, Baghdad, and a number of central and southern provinces .
Economic expert Nabil Al-Marsoumi stated yesterday, Saturday, that the “ASYCUDA” system implemented by the Iraqi government has caused a decrease in trade transactions and a decline in customs revenues in the country, calling for dialogue sessions with chambers of commerce to reach appropriate solutions after the deterioration of the economic situation as a result of the application of the customs tariff .
The Iraqi government raised customs duties by percentages ranging between 5% and 30%, distributed across brackets starting from 5%, 10% and 15%, up to the maximum limit of 30 %.
These percentages cover the entire customs tariff register consisting of 99 chapters containing approximately 16,400 customs items, which are the items adopted globally in trade .
A few days ago, the General Authority of Customs in the Ministry of Finance issued a directive to adopt a reduction rate of 25% on the average import values recorded in the ASYCUDA system .
Over the past month, Iraq has witnessed angry demonstrations in several provinces, protesting the decision to impose new taxes and fees, and to apply customs tariffs to imported goods .
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