Iraq targets 2028 WTO accession as ITC proposes national trade strategy

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi federal government is actively accelerating its accession procedures to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), targeting full membership compliance by 2028, according to Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC) Pamela Coke-Hamilton. Speaking on the Dinar Iqtisadi program broadcast by Al-Iraqiya News, Coke-Hamilton confirmed that the ITC continues to support Baghdad through technical reviews of domestic trade legislation, regulatory alignment, and capacity-building across both public institutions and the private sector. Following Iraq’s submission of its market access offer on goods in September, authorities are finalizing the corresponding services offer. Coke-Hamilton noted that strong political commitment was evident in her high-level consultations with Iraq’s foreign and trade ministers, identifying the reform implementation schedule as the primary challenge. Full WTO accession is projected to bolster international investor confidence by institutionalizing transparent, predictable commercial frameworks. Coke-Hamilton outlined a formal proposal submitted to the Iraqi government to establish a comprehensive National Trade and Investment Strategy linked directly to Iraq’s National Development Plan (2024–2028). Designed to identify promising non-oil sectors and expand employment for youth and women, the initiative responds to critical structural vulnerabilities highlighted by recent transit volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, where a single maritime disruption can yield an estimated $60 billion in economic shocks. To insulate the sovereign economy from severe hydrocarbon price shocks, Coke-Hamilton emphasized priority diversification toward construction, tourism, information technology, and agro-industrial manufacturing. Highlighting that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) drive roughly 90% of Iraq’s domestic economic activity, Coke-Hamilton detailed the tangible footprint of ITC programs on the ground. The SAAVI project, launched in 2020, has supported over 4,000 Iraqi farmers, generating a 70% increase in agricultural yield and exports, while ongoing programs like “Jobs” and “Masar” continue expanding vocational and technical apprenticeships in solar installation, green construction, and hospitality. Iraqi produce—including commercial potato, tomato, and poultry varieties—has met modern retail standards to secure shelf placement in supermarket chains like Carrefour. However, Coke-Hamilton warned that Iraqi agro-food exports remain constrained by the absence of internationally accredited domestic testing laboratories, forcing local exporters to send food samples abroad for testing at substantial logistical cost. In the commercial sector, she noted that the Iraqi National Trade Fair facilitated more than $83 million in sales, attracting multinational conglomerates including Siemens, Alcatel, Nokia, and General Electric, reflecting Iraq’s emerging position as a viable regional hub for cross-border investment and trade integration.