Economy News _ Baghdad
Al-Arabi newspaper reported on Wednesday that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is delaying the implementation of the agreement on the unification of customs tariffs between Baghdad and Erbil, pointing out that there is a meeting between the competent authorities of the parties to find out the reasons behind the non-application of standardization of tariffs.
The newspaper quoted a government source as saying that "the authorities of the Kurdistan Regional Government stall in the implementation of the agreement to unify customs tariffs between Baghdad and Erbil and raise the existing customs points," noting that "procrastination may undermine one of the most important agreements reached between the parties before the adoption of the general budget of the country last month."
The source, who asked not to be named, said that "the Kurdish parties in Erbil are still charging customs duties on goods entering from Turkey and Iran towards Baghdad or Baghdad to the markets of the region, which leads to higher prices of goods to the Iraqi market."
"The Finance Committee, the Customs Department and the Council of Ministers will hold a meeting with officials of the Kurdistan region to find out the reasons behind the non-application of border crossings in the region on the standardization of tariffs," the newspaper quoted a senior official as saying.
He added that "Baghdad may re-impose the collection of levies on trucks that do not meet the government's instructions," explaining that "there is a deadline if the region does not implement this decision, Baghdad will have a firm position on this matter."
The Director General of Customs in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Samal Abdul Rahman, announced earlier this month that the tariff will be unified at the level of Iraq, including the Kurdistan region on February 17, and the lifting of customs points between the region and the Center before that date.
Iraqi charges for goods range between 0.5 per cent and 30 per cent depending on the type of goods and the country to come, except for cigarettes and spirits, whose fees are twice the real price.
economy-news.net/content.php?id=15765
Al-Arabi newspaper reported on Wednesday that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is delaying the implementation of the agreement on the unification of customs tariffs between Baghdad and Erbil, pointing out that there is a meeting between the competent authorities of the parties to find out the reasons behind the non-application of standardization of tariffs.
The newspaper quoted a government source as saying that "the authorities of the Kurdistan Regional Government stall in the implementation of the agreement to unify customs tariffs between Baghdad and Erbil and raise the existing customs points," noting that "procrastination may undermine one of the most important agreements reached between the parties before the adoption of the general budget of the country last month."
The source, who asked not to be named, said that "the Kurdish parties in Erbil are still charging customs duties on goods entering from Turkey and Iran towards Baghdad or Baghdad to the markets of the region, which leads to higher prices of goods to the Iraqi market."
"The Finance Committee, the Customs Department and the Council of Ministers will hold a meeting with officials of the Kurdistan region to find out the reasons behind the non-application of border crossings in the region on the standardization of tariffs," the newspaper quoted a senior official as saying.
He added that "Baghdad may re-impose the collection of levies on trucks that do not meet the government's instructions," explaining that "there is a deadline if the region does not implement this decision, Baghdad will have a firm position on this matter."
The Director General of Customs in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Samal Abdul Rahman, announced earlier this month that the tariff will be unified at the level of Iraq, including the Kurdistan region on February 17, and the lifting of customs points between the region and the Center before that date.
Iraqi charges for goods range between 0.5 per cent and 30 per cent depending on the type of goods and the country to come, except for cigarettes and spirits, whose fees are twice the real price.
economy-news.net/content.php?id=15765