Traders protest in front of the Supreme Judicial Council building in Baghdad on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, against increased tariffs, calling on the judiciary to intervene. (Photo: 964media)
Baghdad traders protest customs tariffs, call on judiciary to intervene
BAGHDAD — Baghdad traders staged a protest Tuesday in front of the Supreme Judicial Council building in the Harithiya area, opposing increased customs tariffs on their goods and calling on Chief Justice Faiq Zaidan to intervene.
Ali al-Saadi, a trader, said the protest was held in hopes of judicial intervention.
“Our demands are clear to everyone, and we are standing today in front of the Supreme Judicial Council because we all believe the judiciary is fair and will intervene to solve this problem,” al-Saadi told 964media.
He said traders play a role in supporting the economy and bringing foreign currency into the country through long-standing trade relations.
“The trader is an ordinary citizen who was not greedy and did not engage in smuggling. We contribute to revitalizing the country’s economy and have worked in trade for 20 years, building relations with traders in China and several countries to bring hard currency into Iraq,” he said.
Al-Saadi added, “Raising customs tariffs is an ill-considered decision and will lead to the end of relations with neighboring countries, and we hope for direct intervention from the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, to resolve this issue.”
Hussam al-Rubaie, another trader, said traders are being portrayed as acting against the state and citizens.
“There is a tendency to portray traders as working against the state and citizens, and this is not true. Raising customs prices will cause a crisis for traders and for citizens in general,” al-Rubaie said.
He called on the government to engage directly with merchants. “The government must meet with traders, listen to their demands and put solutions in place that satisfy everyone. Most traders have closed their shops and dismissed several employees and workers, which will deprive families of their livelihoods. We will continue to hold protests until the state finds solutions for us,” he said.
Trader Mustafa Ayyoub said hybrid vehicles were imported based on earlier government decisions.
“We imported hybrid cars because previous state decisions stipulated that this type of vehicle was exempt from customs duties. This was published in an official statement by the General Authority of Customs in 2025, which confirmed that hybrids were exempt because they help protect the environment,” Ayyoub said.
He said customs duties were later imposed, increasing the price of each vehicle.
“These decisions are incorrect, and fines cannot be imposed on this category of vehicles like regular cars. We appeal to the Iraqi judiciary to intervene to resolve this issue,” Ayyoub added.
Similar protests and a general strike were held Sunday in Baghdad and Basra, with traders closing shops and markets. Merchants called on the government to urgently review the decision before the start of Ramadan, warning of higher prices and market disruption.
At the start of the year, the Iraqi government announced the application of new customs tariffs on a range of goods, devices and hybrid vehicles that were previously exempt. Alongside enforcement of the ASYCUDA electronic customs system.
The Baghdad Chamber of Commerce announced Monday the continuation of a general closure of markets across all Iraqi governorates as traders intensify protests against raised customs tariffs, saying the shutdown will remain until the fees are canceled. Trader Ziad Salem said fees that previously cost about 500,000 dinars ($333) had risen sharply. “Customs has reached 30 percent, and now goods are stuck at the port,” he said. Ahmed Abboud said containers that once cost 3 million dinars ($2,000) to clear now face 30 percent duties. “This will double prices for citizens,” he said.