Iraq Advances Economic Reforms to Join WTO Membership

Iraq is making significant strides in economic reforms aimed at joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Trade Minister Dr. Ather Dawoud Al-Ghariri said during a dialogue session in Geneva.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Al-Ghariri highlighted Iraq’s transition from a socially inclusive economic system to a market-oriented economy, describing recent reforms as a “revolution for reform” rather than incremental changes. He emphasised that legislative advances in recent years have laid the foundation, but the country now requires further technical support, capacity-building, and international cooperation to complete the requirements for WTO accession.

The minister pointed to Iraq’s strategic opportunities in multiple sectors, noting that full participation in the multilateral trade system would enhance both competitiveness and economic stability. He cited UNCTAD’s training programs as instrumental in developing local government competencies, enabling officials to manage negotiations and implement reforms aligned with WTO regulations.

Dr. Al-Ghariri also highlighted major investment projects, such as the El Fao Port Project and the Development Road, which are strengthening Iraq’s position as a regional and global economic hub. He stressed the importance of Free Trade Agreements as a pathway toward full integration into the global economy and expressed the government’s commitment to accelerating its WTO accession with continued technical and institutional support.

The dialogue session underscored Iraq’s ambition to become an active participant in the international trade system, signalling a shift toward sustainable economic growth and deeper integration into global markets.