IIER / FNF Expert Group Meeting Iraq and the WTO Challenges, Opportunities, Strategies 24 August 2013, Erbil,

, Iraq Recommendations

1 - We recommend expediting the procedures of Iraq's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), considering that Iraq is currently in a rehabilitation and construction phase of its productive sectors which ought to take place in accordance with global standards and opposing the rentierism of the Iraqi economy which will otherwise continue. 2- For Iraq to join the WTO, we recommend amending Article No. 28 of Banking Act No. 64 of 2004 to enable banks to invest. This trend can be supported through establishing an investment support fund to help small and medium enterprises increasing their competitiveness in order to become eligible to compete globally in the framework of the WTO. 3- The process requires the government's commitment towards the WTO and its member states and to adopting reforms and pursuing economic policies in line with the charter of the WTO. 4- In order to speed up Iraq's accession to the WTO, Iraq needs to reform the business environment and make it suitable and attractive to the activities of both the private and public sector in a globalised economy. 5- We recommend to adopt policies and procedures in line with the WTO member states in order to reform the legal and procedural environment in Iraq, such as activating the customs tariff law, the product protection law, the protection of intellectual property and other laws. 6- In order to facilitate and accelerate the process of Iraq's accession to the WTO return to the international community effectively, and to create new opportunities for Iraqi companies producing goods and services, we recommend the treatment of Iraqi products on an equal footing with products from other countries. This requires an update of the legal and institutional frameworks of the state. 7- To study the cost-benefit analysis for Iraqs accession to the WTO, we recommend that a group of experts and academics build a standard model for analyzing the effects of Iraq's accession to the TWO, and for this project to proceed further, we recommend to benefit from the experience of the Republic of Lebanon in this area.

8- All studies and proposals confirm the necessity of activating the package of laws which support Iraq's accession to the WTO, which requires resolving conflicts that exist between the Federal Government and Kurdistan Regional Government. Therefore, we recommend the application of customs tariff law as legally effective and applicable to all border crossings of Iraq, whether these borders belong to the federal government or the Kurdistan Region. 9- For Iraq to become fully eligible to join the WTO, and to retain its regional and international position, we recommend speeding up the implementation of national strategies for agricultural and industrial sectors and take maximum advantage customs tariff law benefits. 10- Participants recommend to train Iraqi experts to lead the process of joining TWO, this is two phases project: first through the Supreme National Committee overseeing Iraq's accession process and the Ministry of Trade, drawing on scientific expertise. Second through the adoption of modern technological methods and the adoption of electronic signature formula in government correspondence, which strengthens the role of e-government on the one hand, and reduce the costs on the other hand. 11- It is necessary to carry out an awareness campaign and extensive participation of all parties, especially the Supreme National Committee overseeing Iraq Joining WTO, and the Ministry of Commerce as the sectorial responsible for the process, the conferees therefore recommends the need to activate the role of the media, universities and provincial councils, they need to take it upon themselves to do extensive campaigns to raise public awareness of the benefits of Iraq's joining the WTO, and the costs would be borne by Iraq in the event of delay in joining the WTO.