Cabinet decisions in today's session

Baghdad-INA  
The Council of Ministers issued during its meeting held today, Tuesday, several decisions imposing a number of it, additional customs duties on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, and others to help Iraqis in Turkey and Syria after the recent earthquake.
 
A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Media Office, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), said, "The Council of Cinisters discussed the topics on its agenda, and within the framework of the government's efforts to protect the local product, the Council of Ministers approved the recommendations of the competent authority in the Ministry of Industry and Minerals and the Department of Industrial Development and Organization." Based on the Iraqi Products Protection Law (11 of 2010 as amended) according to the following:
1- Imposing an additional customs fee of 65% of the unit of measurement of the product (epoxies and modern dyes), imported into Iraq from all countries and origins, for a period of four years without reduction, and monitoring the local market during the period of applying the additional customs duties.
 
2- Imposing an additional customs fee of 65% of the unit of measurement of the product (shampoo for washing colored, black and dark clothes), imported to Iraq from all countries and origins.
 
3- Imposing an additional customs fee of 65% of the unit of measurement of a product (floor and clothing freshener, fabric softener and softener of both types / liquid and gel) imported to Iraq from all countries and origins.
4- Imposing an additional customs fee of 65% of the unit of measurement of a product (floor gel, general cleaner and paste for cleaning utensils and dishes), imported into Iraq from all countries and origins, for a period of four years without reduction.
 
5- Extending the amount of the additional customs fee at a rate of (100%) issued by Cabinet Resolution (280 of 2016) from the unit of measurement for the product (cigarettes) imported to Iraq from all countries and origins, for a period of four years without reduction.
 
6- Imposing an additional customs fee of (100%) of the unit of measurement of a product (corrugated or plain cardboard in the form of boxes, plates, or partitions, printed or unprinted) imported into Iraq from all countries and origins.
7- Imposing an additional customs fee of (200%) of the unit of measurement of the product (alcoholic beverages), imported into Iraq from all countries and origins, for a period of four years without reduction, and monitoring the local market during the period of application of the additional customs duties.
 
8- Imposing an additional customs fee of (20%) of the unit of measurement (the product of plastic pipes and accessories, PPR & PPRC) imported into Iraq from all countries and origins.
 
9- The Ministry of Finance, General Authority for Customs applies the additional customs fee for the aforementioned products, and also periodically notifies the Ministry of Industry and Minerals Department of Development and Industrial Organization about the quantity of Iraq’s imports of the aforementioned products and the value of the additional customs duties that are collected from the importer of the foreigner product, the value of the importer, exporting countries and importers.
 
10- The Ministry of Industry and Minerals should observe the following:
 
  a. The amount of increase in imports compared to the previous three years to find out the extent of the unjustified increase.
b. Finding out the extent of the complaining companies' ability to meet the market need in a manner that ensures that prices are not inflated.
c. Determine the importance of the required protection for the national economy.
 
11- The regulatory authorities are responsible for checking the effects resulting from the imposition of additional customs protection on the imported product.
 
12- This decision shall be implemented after (120) days from the date of its issuance.
 
In the same context, according to the statement, the Cabinet approved the recommendations of the competent authority in the Ministry of Industry and Minerals (Department of Industrial Development and Organization), based on the provisions of Article (14) of the Iraqi Products Protection Law (11 of 2010), amended as follows:
 
1. Extending the implementation of Cabinet Resolution (323 of 2018) which includes the imposition of an additional customs fee of (15%) of the unit value of a product (galvanized and non-galvanized metal pipes), imported to Iraq from all countries and origins.
2. The Ministry of Finance, General Authority for Customs shall apply the additional customs fee for the aforementioned product and also periodically notify the Ministry of Industry and Minerals / Department of Development and Industrial Organization about the quantity of Iraq’s imports of the aforementioned product and the value of the additional customs duties that are collected on the importer of the foreign product and the value of the importer and exporting and importing countries.
3. Observance by the Ministry of Industry and Minerals of the following:
a. The amount of increase in imports compared to the previous three years to find out the extent of the unjustified increase.
b. Finding out the complaining company's ability to fill the market's need in a way that ensures that prices are not inflated.
c. Determine the importance of the required protection for the national economy.
 
4. The regulatory authorities shall audit the effects resulting from the imposition of additional customs protection on the imported product.
 
5. This decision shall be implemented after (120) days from the date of its issuance.
 
  "And in implementation of the Prime Minister's directives to help Iraqi citizens who are in Turkey and Syria, who wish to return to their country, the Council of Ministers approved The Ministry of Transport operates urgent flights to evacuate Iraqis who wish to return and who are in Syria by land, and from Turkey by land and air.
 
In the context of Iraq continuing to provide support to Syria and Turkey and help them overcome the effects of the devastating earthquake, the Cabinet approved the following:
 
1-   The Ministry of Oil allocate (60,000) tons of fuel oil product with high sulfur content (Matruh, Al-Mikhtaf area) to be loaded from Al-Mikhtaf area in the Iraqi territorial waters, from the Syrian side.
 
2- The Ministry of Oil allocate (30,000) tons of fuel oil product with high sulfur content (Matruh, Al-Mikhtaf area) to be loaded from Al-Mikhtaf area in the Iraqi territorial waters, from the Turkish side, or whoever authorizes him to do so, provided that the above-mentioned amounts are settled after processing them between the two ministries (Oil and Finance) within the financial dues between the two ministries.
 
The Cabinet discussed other issues on the agenda, and issued the following decisions:
 
First- amending the Council of Ministers Resolution (23050 of 2023), regarding the ownership of residential lots for the players of the Iraqi national football team, the administrative staff, the president, deputies and members of the Iraqi Football Association, so that the ownership is an exception to the birthplace and personal pledge.
 
Second- Approval of deleting the phrase (until the controls are approved by the Ministries of (Finance and Planning) from Cabinet Resolution (213 of 2018). The text of the resolution becomes as follows:
- Approving the cessation of musataha contracts for the state’s real estate and lands during the period of the occupation of the terrorist organization ISIS in the governorates of (Anbar, Nineveh, and Salah al-Din) and areas of the governorates of Baghdad, Babil, Diyala, and Kirkuk, and according to each region. Provided that the announcement of the property on which contracts are concluded is delayed, and the period of delay is considered within the stopping period.
 
Third- Approval of a draft law on the accession of the Republic of Iraq to the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Olives for the year 2015, and referring it to the House of Representatives.
 
Fourth- Approval of the following:
 
1- Authorizing the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fouad Hussein, with the authority to negotiate and sign a draft agreement to exempt holders of diplomatic, special or service passports from entry visas between the government of the Republic of Iraq and the government of the Russian Federation, based on the provisions of Article 80/Sixth, from the constitution.
 
2- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs prepares the necessary authorization document on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Iraq for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, according to the approved contexts, and submits it to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers in order to obtain the signature of the Prime Minister.