At a Glance

• Baghdad claims it recently shut several informal routes, while Erbil insists they have been inactive for years.
• A technical committee will inspect six KRG-recognized crossings to evaluate them for federal validation.

A regulatory dispute has emerged between Erbil and Baghdad regarding the number of closed crossings. While Iraqi authorities claim to have recently closed 20 informal transit pathways, the Kurdistan Region maintains that these specific routes have been entirely inactive for years.

---

Key Statement and Focus Area

• Omar Adnan al-Waili, Head of Iraq’s Border Ports Authority, stated that more than 20 informal crossings in the Kurdistan Region have been closed in coordination with relevant authorities.
• The General Directorate of Customs stated that the 20 crossings mentioned by Iraqi authorities have been closed since 2016 and harbor no ongoing activity.
• A technical committee is currently preparing to audit six other crossings—officially recognized only by the KRG—to resolve their status within the federal trade framework.

---

A dispute has emerged between the Iraqi Border Crossings Commission and the Kurdistan Region Customs regarding the number of closed crossings.

Al-Waili said a comprehensive plan has been developed to regulate border checkpoints and standardize customs tariffs across the country.

He emphasized that these new measures are designed to safeguard domestic production and eliminate illicit smuggling networks.

Meanwhile, the KRG General Directorate of Customs stressed that the Kurdistan Region is currently awaiting a Baghdad delegation to inspect 6 border crossings (Shushme, Pishta, Sairanban, Kele, Sarzeri, and Peshkhabur) which are recognized by the KRG but not yet validated by federal authorities.

This committee will compile a report on the operational readiness of these crossings to decide on their official status; currently, only 4 land crossings and 2 airports are mutually recognized by both governments.

FYI

Historically, Erbil and Baghdad have maintained distinct customs administrations, characterized by divergent tariff schedules, import regulations, and statutory exemptions. 

To resolve these systemic structural rifts, the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government recently agreed to fully implement the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA). 

The primary bottleneck was resolved when both sides agreed to split border-crossing customs revenues equally (50% to the KRG and 50% to Baghdad's federal treasury) using dedicated, separate bank accounts.

This global digital customs management system is designed to standardize border procedures, unify tariff collection, and track cargo movements in real-time across all regions.

Dive Deeper: Handpicked Stories for You

Follow Channel8 for continuous updates:

U.S. Sanctions on Iran Spark Kurdistan Price Hike Fears 

Iraq Approves ASYCUDA-Based Advance Customs Tax Collection From October

Erbil And Baghdad Reportedly Agree On Equal Customs Split

KRG Links ASYCUDA Customs Deployment To Border Formalization