Ports commission chief: Baghdad, Erbil sign memorandum agreeing on unified tariff system

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Border Ports Commission chief Omar al-Waeli said the federal government and the Kurdistan Region have signed a memorandum agreeing to adopt a unified customs tariff and implement the ASYCUDA electronic customs system across all Iraqi ports, including those in the Kurdistan Region.

“Officials in the Kurdistan Region are serious this time about reaching major understandings regarding the border crossings file,” Waeli told Al Sharqiya News, adding that Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani discussed border crossings and ASYCUDA during his recent visit with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.

The two sides also agreed to form a joint committee to conduct a border survey covering the entire frontier strip in the Kurdistan Region to identify crossings recognized by both sides.

ASYCUDA, developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, is an automated customs management system used to process declarations, monitor trade and reduce manual procedures at border crossings. Iraq began expanding the system at federal crossings in early 2026, with Kurdistan Region crossings not yet formally linked, contributing to disputes over tariffs and trade procedures between Baghdad and Erbil.

Customs coordination has been a running point of contention throughout 2026. Federal authorities opened customs offices along the boundary with the Kurdistan Region in February to collect tariff differences, while regional officials accused Baghdad of using ASYCUDA-related banking restrictions to pressure Kurdish traders. Both sides have held several meetings in recent months aimed at unifying procedures across all Iraqi crossings.