Trade Minister Highlights Global Support for Iraq’s WTO Accession

 

Baghdad – INA
 
Trade Minister Atheer Daoud Al-Ghurairi affirmed on Friday, that negotiations for Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) are advancing rapidly. He also highlighted that all nations are keen to see Iraq return as a significant global economic player.
 
Al-Ghurairi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "the resumption of negotiations for Iraq’s accession to the WTO is a major milestone and fulfills the government's promise to reform the economic situation, with the private sector being a crucial and central pillar of the Iraqi economy."
 
He expressed hope for the fourth round of negotiations to take place in the first quarter of the coming year, emphasizing that "this acceleration indicates that negotiations are progressing very quickly towards Iraq's accession to the WTO, with Iraq being an important economic entity and all countries eager for Iraq to reemerge as a key player in the multilateral trading system."
 
Saudi Ambassador to the WTO, Saqar Abdullah Al-Muqbel, told INA that "there is a positive outlook for Iraq joining the multilateral trading system, considering it one of the largest economies outside this organization."
 
Al-Muqbel confirmed that "Saudi Arabia prioritizes fulfilling Iraq’s aspirations to join the WTO."
 
The official responsible for Iraq’s WTO accession stated that "member countries were pleased with the Iraqi delegation and we hope the delegation has advanced this long process."
 
She added, "We look forward to seeing Iraq as a member of the World Trade Organization."