The Director-General of the West Asia Office for the Iranian Trade Development Organization, Abdol Amir Rabihavi, revealed on Friday the gaps in the "Iraqi local product law" and how to "cheat" to introduce goods into Iraq without customs fees. Rabihavi stated in press remarks that "despite the establishment of rebar production units in Iraq, this country cannot ban the import of rebar from Iran due to the high demand for this product."
He explained Iraq's need for approximately 3 million new housing units, noting that "these housing units require concrete and rebar. Although rebar production units are active in this country, Iraq's significant need for this product currently means it cannot ban the import of rebar."
He mentioned that "Iraq has adopted a policy of self-sufficiency, but due to its lack of Iranian technologies in certain mineral advantages, it cannot achieve complete self-sufficiency." He added, "For example, Iraq needs to import raw materials from Iran and then convert them into alloys."
Rabihavi referred to the law protecting local products in Iraq, saying, "This law applies customs duties so that the prices of imported goods are close to the prices of locally produced goods." However, he proposed a solution to circumvent these fees, stating: "If an Iranian rebar exporting trader reaches an agreement with an Iraqi entity that defines an investment project, he can obtain a license from Iraq to import this product without customs duties."
