The visit of the Kurdistan Region’s economic delegation to Baghdad, which was planned to discuss Erbil-Baghdad issues and the ASYCUDA customs system, has been postponed.

Nawzad Sheikh Kamil, Director General of Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), stated that the delegation's visit to Baghdad has been rescheduled for next week. 

Kamil clarified that the postponement stems from the the KRG's intention to equip the delegation with specific guidelines concerning the ASYCUDA customs system.

This strategic framework, he added, is designed to ensure that upcoming negotiations in Baghdad firmly safeguard the legal and financial rights of the Kurdistan.

Peshawa Hawramani, Spokesperson for the KRG, announced earlier that the Council of Ministers will convene tomorrow to address the oil file, domestic revenue sharing, and the implementation of ASYCUDA. 

Four Major Revenue and Customs Bottlenecks 

Four primary issues remain complex bottlenecks between the two governments, specifically regarding trademark regulations, customs exemption management, and frameworks for protecting domestic products. 

Additionally, negotiations continue to stall over the mechanism for remitting 50 percent of non-oil customs revenues to Baghdad and providing local traders with direct access to US dollars at the official government rate.

KRG, Iraq Aim to Unify Financial, ASYCUDA Systems

The delegation that is set for Baghdad is composed of representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Economy, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Water Resources, and Interior, alongside the General Directorate of Customs and other officials.

The team will participate in the Iraqi Economic Council meeting, chaired by the Minister of Finance, to reach a final decision on unifying the financial and commercial systems, including the ASYCUDA system, which was expanded into an automated system nationwide on January 1.