The General Authority of Customs confirmed that there will be no increase in customs duties on food, medicine, or basic goods that people depend on every day.
The authority explained that for other goods covered by customs duties, the fees will be calculated based on each item’s weight and classification, making the process more organized and clear.
Customs Authority Director General Thamer Qasim said that Cabinet Resolution No. 957 of 2025 was issued to finally enforce the Customs Tariff Law No. 22 of 2010. He explained that this law has existed since 2010 but was never applied because customs systems were outdated, infrastructure was weak, and control over many border points was limited.
According to Qasim, the situation has now changed. Customs centers across Iraq have been automated, and the electronic ASYCUDA system has been rolled out through most stages. This made it possible to apply the law properly for the first time.
He stressed that the law does not raise customs duties in a major way. In fact, many fees have actually been reduced.
Qasim also pointed out that a big issue in the past was how tax deposits were collected before 2023. At that time, deposits were handled manually through tax offices at customs centers. Because there was no automation, this opened the door to widespread fraud and manipulation.
With the new electronic system in place, he said, customs procedures are now more transparent and better controlled.
