Economic expert Dr. Safwan Qusay said Baghdad has the power to force the Kurdistan Region to follow the same customs tariffs used at border crossings in the rest of Iraq.
Speaking to dinaropinions.com, Qusay pointed out that Iraq already won an international legal case related to oil smuggled to Turkey. He explained that the Federal Court ruled in Iraq’s favor and required the Kurdistan Regional Government to hand over the oil to SOMO, the State Oil Marketing Organization.
He added that if the Kurdistan Region continues to change the classification of goods or avoids completing proper customs procedures, Baghdad can take firm action. According to Qusay, the federal government can inform Turkey that any goods entering Iraq without approval through the SKODA customs system will not be allowed into the country. He said this step would come after negotiations with the regional government are completed.
Qusay stressed that if violations continue, Iraqi border crossings can apply these measures to all goods coming from Turkey into Iraq, making sure customs laws are enforced equally across the country.
