The Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Finance rejects a decision from the Iraqi General Commission of Customs about procedures at the Ibrahim Khalil Border Crossing. Officials in Erbil said customs procedures will continue under the current system. They also reassured traders and companies across the region.
The Iraqi customs authority announced a new rule. The authority said it plans to apply the system for three months. Under the rule, traders must deposit customs duties and financial guarantees before they transfer U.S. dollars to import goods.
The Kurdistan Ministry of Finance quickly rejected the decision. Officials said the announcement contradicts a previous decision from the federal cabinet. That decision states that authorities must collect customs duties at the border where goods enter the country.
Officials in Erbil also criticized the process. They said the Iraqi customs authority did not coordinate with the Kurdistan Regional Government before announcing the policy. The ministry stressed that cooperation between Erbil and Baghdad remains necessary for border trade policies.
The Iraqi customs authority said the temporary rule still allows imports of food and medicine through the crossing. However, traders must follow a pre-clearance customs system. The measure will remain in effect until the end of May. Officials say the rule aims to organize imports and strengthen customs procedures across Iraq.
Samer Qasim Dawood said the policy forms part of a wider effort to regulate trade. He added that traders must submit customs declarations through the electronic ASYCUDA system before their goods pass through border checkpoints.
The Kurdistan Finance Ministry again reassured traders, food suppliers, and pharmaceutical companies. Officials said customs procedures at Ibrahim Khalil will continue under the same regional regulations.
Some traders in the Kurdistan Region still worry about the federal pre-clearance system. They say the procedures are complicated. They also say the ASYCUDA platform still does not fully operate in the Kurdistan Region.
