The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has clarified that the recent decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on imported goods will not affect the Kurdistan Region, as it does not export goods directly to the United States.
On April 2, 2025, President Trump enacted tariffs on a range of goods imported into the U.S., including a 39% tariff on Iraqi products. However, according to Sheikh Ata Mohammed, Deputy Director General of the Kurdistan Importers and Exporters, this measure will not impact the Kurdistan Region. He explained that the region has no goods being exported to the United States, and therefore, the new tariffs will not apply to the Kurdistan Region.
Sheikh Ata further outlined that while the Kurdistan Region does export certain products, such as Sulaimani water to the UK, pomegranates to Dubai and the UK, potatoes to Saudi Arabia, and skins and sand to Iran, these exports are not affected by the U.S. tariff decision.
Dr. Mazhar Mohammed, an advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, also noted that the U.S. tariffs do not cover oil and gas exports, which are Iraq’s primary exports to the U.S. As a result, he emphasized that the impact on Iraq would be minimal, as there are no other significant Iraqi goods being subjected to the new tariffs.
