Iraq’s General Customs Authority has introduced temporary exceptional measures to speed up the flow of goods and reduce congestion at ports, following directives from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani amid unusual regional conditions affecting trade.
Under the new procedures, imports for public sector entities can be released upon submission of a legal guarantee from the beneficiary, committing to complete all formalities and pay any fees within the legally required period. Private sector goods can be released with a valid bank guarantee or cash deposit covering the full customs duties and taxes for at least 90 days, with completion of all customs procedures and submission of original documentation required before the guarantee expires; failure to do so will result in confiscation of the guaranteed amount by the public treasury.
The authority emphasized that these measures aim to improve efficiency and procedural flexibility at ports while maintaining legal oversight and protecting public revenues, supporting ongoing economic activity and trade continuity.
