Baghdad – IA
The Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the National Committee concerned with Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization, Atheer Daoud Salman Al-Ghurairi, announced the completion of the files for the initial offer of goods and services within the files for joining the organization.
Al-Ghurairi said in a statement received by the (INA), that “the two files for initial offers for goods and services have been completed and officially submitted to the Secretariat of the World Trade Organization through official channels,” stressing that “this important step comes in the context of the Iraqi government’s efforts and its program aimed at Promoting international trade and achieving sustainable development, which reflects its commitment to ensuring global economic integration and expanding economic partnerships.”
The minister continued, “The National Committee, the technical committees emanating from it, and the accession team in the ministry were able, within a short period, to complete these files and submit them to the organization in preparation for holding the third meeting of the working group on Iraq during the current year, 16 years after the date of the second meeting of the group in 2008.”
Al-Ghurairi pointed out that “the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the international circles welcomed Iraq’s return to the negotiating table, especially since it is one of the important Arab economies that is still outside the organization, as he described this progress in terms of the accession file as being one of the most active files among the Arab countries and observers.”
Minister Al-Ghurairi stated that “the two files for the initial offer of goods and services that were presented included a wide range of products and services that reflect the diversity and competitiveness of the Iraqi economy and to negotiate them,” noting that “work is underway to prepare the Iraqi negotiating team and build the negotiating capabilities of the team for the purpose of directly holding negotiating rounds with The member states of the organization in order for Iraq to obtain membership in the organization.
The Minister stated, “The Department of Foreign Economic Relations, through official channels of dealing with the organization, is working on completing all requirements for accession in order for Iraq to obtain membership in the organization and enhance Iraq’s integration into the multilateral trading system.”
It is worth noting that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has issued the annual report on the accession of observer countries and has praised the efforts led by the Ministry of Commerce through its presidency of the National Committee, which considered activating the process of Iraq’s accession to the organization an important step for the organization, which was welcomed and praised by the member states and that Iraq It is the only Arab country whose accession process has become active and has passed advanced stages among the Arab countries that hold observer member status.