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Türkiye and Iraq have agreed to establish a joint customs committee mechanism as part of efforts to deepen commercial ties between the neighboring countries, according to an announcement from Türkiye's Ministry of Trade.
The agreement emerged from a high-level customs meeting held in Ankara, co-chaired by Turkish Deputy Trade Minister Sezai Ucarmak and Iraqi Prime Minister's Advisor for Transportation and Customs Affairs, Lieutenant General Sami Abdulhussain Radhi Al Sudani.
The Türkiye-Iraq High-Level Customs Meeting focused on developing cooperation in the customs sector to further strengthen trade and economic relations between the two countries. Officials discussed comprehensive reviews of current practices in bilateral trade and transit operations.
A key emphasis of the talks was increasing the capacity of border crossings to facilitate faster and more secure trade flows. The meeting highlighted the importance of streamlining customs procedures to enhance commercial exchange between the nations.
The newly agreed Türkiye-Iraq Joint Customs Committee represents a formal mechanism for ongoing coordination between the two countries' customs administrations. Officials said the committee will ensure closer cooperation and synchronization of customs operations.
During the discussions, representatives outlined ongoing efforts to reach a bilateral trade volume of $30 billion with Iraq while increasing mutual investments. The talks also addressed the Development Road Project and plans for new customs gates aimed at further strengthening commercial ties.
The agreement comes as Türkiye continues to expand its economic partnerships in the region. Iraq represents one of Türkiye's key trading partners in the Middle East, with significant potential for growth in various sectors.
The establishment of the joint customs committee is expected to reduce bureaucratic obstacles and create more efficient trade processes between the two countries, potentially benefiting businesses and consumers on both sides of the border.
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