Mr. Atheer Dawood Salman Al Ghrairi, Iraq's Minister of Trade, led a high-level delegation from Baghdad at the third meeting of the Working Party. Ambassador Saqr Almoqbel of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who chaired the Working Party for the first time since his appointment last year, welcomed Iraq's return to Geneva after many years, highlighting the significance of the formal resumption of Iraq's accession process. “The Minister's presence here, the first since 2008, sends a clear signal that Iraq's accession process is now back on track,” he remarked. The Working Party held its second meeting in April 2008 and an informal meeting in November 2017.
The Chair acknowledged “the tremendous efforts by everyone, of course, starting with Iraq, but also members and partners, as well as former Chair Ambassador Omar Hilale of Morocco, to make today's meeting a reality.” He also referred to his visit to Baghdad in January 2024, where he met with senior Iraqi government officials, including President Abdul Latif Rashid.
Minister Al Ghrairi noted the importance of the meeting, which “represents a distinctive step for the Government and the people of Iraq towards becoming a full-fledged member of the WTO, a target we seek to achieve as a means to enhance our national economic strategy and integration in the global economy.” He further stated that despite ongoing security, political, and regional challenges, “the Government of Iraq remains steadfast in its commitment to pursue a reform agenda in terms of enhancing trade policies, boosting the business environment and creating favourable conditions for foreign investment.”
Minister Al Ghrairi highlighted the special importance attached by the Government to aligning its trade policies and regulatory frameworks with international rules and standards and strengthening institutional capacities to meet WTO requirements. “The National Committee on Iraq's Accession has intensified efforts and made substantial progress in fulfilling the accession requirements,” he said. Ahead of the third Working Party meeting, Iraq submitted key negotiating documents including its initial market access offers on goods and services.
WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang stressed this meeting’s significance not only for Iraq but also for the Arab region which still has many accessions underway. “As the largest region outside the multilateral trading system,” Zhang said. "This moment signifies a renewed opportunity for progress and collaboration towards accession for Iraq and hopefully other Arab nations aspiring to join WTO enhancing regional global trade dynamics." He emphasized technical assistance importance especially for post-conflict countries like Iraq.
Members highlighted Iraq's accession significance for multilateral trading systems with many Arab members noting it would contribute to regional integration efforts supporting peace security Other participants included observer governments international organizations
Iraq provided an update on initial contacts regarding bilateral market access negotiations noting initial offers on goods services were submitted early May Iraqi delegation expressed readiness further engage WTO members
Working Party discussed various aspects foreign trade regime based revised Memorandum Foreign Trade Regime MFTR supporting documentation provided report legislative developments latest efforts conform WTO-related rules
Next steps
Chair invited intensify bilateral negotiations market access building recent contacts
Chair invited submit specific questions writing by August 15 asked provide replies submit requested accession documents Chair asked Secretariat work revise MFTR serve basis continuing examination next meeting
Chair asked revise Legislative Action Plan submit copies legislation provide up-to-date picture ongoing reforms
Technical assistance emphasized several offering support Secretariat plans organize Round Table discuss needs facilitate process
Chair suggested fourth scheduled first quarter contingent progress outlined steps