The Iraqi Ministerial Council for the Economy has decided to form a high-level joint committee to inspect the Kurdistan Region’s border crossings. The committee will evaluate revenue collection mechanisms and submit unified proposals to the Federal Council of Ministers.

High-Level Talks on Customs Unification

The decision was finalized during the Ministerial Council’s fifth meeting, chaired by Federal Minister of Finance Falih al-Sari. The session was attended by a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) alongside technical representatives implementing the ASYCUDA system, a computerized customs management system designed to modernize border operations.

Discussions centered on technical reports from specialized joint committees tasked with unifying customs and tax procedures across all Iraqi border crossings, explicitly extending these frameworks to include the Kurdistan Region. The council was also briefed on the implementation mechanisms, logistical proposals, and operational challenges facing the deployment of the ASYCUDA system.

Mandate to Review, Regularize, or Close Crossings

The newly mandated joint committee will be led by the Federal Border Crossings Commission, pulling in relevant authorities from both the Federal Government and the KRG. The committee's scope of work includes:

• Comprehensive Border Survey: Conducting physical inspections of both official and unofficial border crossings within the Kurdistan Region.
• Infrastructure Infrastructure Assessment: Identifying crossings that meet legal and logistical standards versus those that do not.
• Regularization and Enforcement: Submitting a comprehensive report to the Ministerial Council to upgrade substandard crossings into official entry points, while permanently closing unauthorized or non-compliant border points.

Unified Customs Exemptions & Revenue Proposals

In a bid to streamline trade bureaucracy, the Ministerial Council directed the Federal Ministry of Finance to coordinate with the KRG Ministry of Finance to draft a unified customs exemption and permit guide. Once approved by the Federal Council of Ministers, this standardized handbook will be strictly enforced at all border crossings nationwide.

Additionally, the council will officially forward joint proposals regarding revenue collection mechanisms at KRG border crossings to the Federal Cabinet for final legislative approval.