Editor’s Note
This report details a protest by traders and logistics firms in Baghdad against a significant increase in Iraqi customs tariffs, highlighting business community concerns over economic policy and fairness.
JAKARTA – A crowd of traders and international logistics companies protested in Baghdad against the Iraqi government’s new policy related to customs tariffs.
Protesters gathered outside the General Directorate of Customs in Baghdad on Sunday, February 9, chanting anti-corruption slogans and rejecting the new customs rates.
The protesters said the new tariffs, which have increased by up to 30 percent for some goods, have affected them. They stated that the Iraqi government has acted unfairly.
The new customs tariffs in Iraq came into effect from January 1, 2026. Their implementation aims to reduce the country’s debt and lessen dependence on oil revenue due to falling oil prices, according to the government.
Iraq faces debt exceeding 90 trillion Iraqi dinars or approximately $69 billion – and the state budget relies on oil for about 90 percent of its revenue. On one hand, there is an effort at diversification.
A lawsuit related to the implementation of this policy has also been sent to court, with a verdict hearing scheduled to be announced this Wednesday by Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court.