For almost two decades, Iraq has endured weak legal trade relations with its main regional and global trade partners. Years of sanctions and isolationism limited access to foreign markets for both goods and services. Iraq’s laws regulating trade have fallen behind international norms, necessitating product safety and standards, customs, intellectual property rights and other revisions.

To remedy these shortcomings and reconnect to the international trade flows, Iraq is seeking membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). As a WTO Member, Iraq will send a signal to the international investment community that:

• Iraq has an attractive investment environment based on the rule of law,
• Iraq has secure and guaranteed access to the markets of WTO countries, and
• Iraq respects investors’ rights, especially property rights including intellectual ones.

These reforms will build investors’ confidence and encourage investment in Iraq.  WTO Membership will permit Iraq to fully exploit its economic capabilities and potential; attract investment capital, technology and know-how; improve competitiveness of goods and services; increase exports of both goods and services, and stimulate economic development and long-term sustainable economic growth. Over the long term, WTO membership will allow Iraq to maximize returns to its land, labor and capital resources according to its competitive advantages in the global economy.

The International Trade and WTO Accession Team of Tijara (wto@tijara-iraq.com) helps the Government of Iraq identify all areas of trade policy reform needed for WTO accession and assists in drafting the laws and procedures needed to implement them.