Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Council of Ministers ratified an executive decision on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, granting blanket customs tariff exemptions on all imported food commodities and pharmaceutical products.
The exemption takes effect retroactively from October 7, 2026, serving as a critical intervention designed to safeguard national food security and maintain the continuous flow of essential healthcare provisions throughout the country.
According to an official statement issued by the Council of Ministers, the blanket tariff relief represents a core component of a wider regulatory package enacted by the federal government to stabilize domestic consumer markets and contain parallel market pressures.
The fiscal measure directly responds to retail price shifts following the federal decision to establish the official benchmark at 1,500 dinars per U.S. dollar, an adjustment that initially spurred cash market volatility and elevated operational import costs across wholesale supply chains.
By eliminating border duties on all foodstuffs and medications, federal authorities aim to suppress speculative price hikes, minimize clearance bottlenecks at land crossings and seaports, and curtail retail consumer inflation.
The decision expands upon prior targeted relief—such as the Ministry of Agriculture’s suspension of fees on imported poultry, eggs, and livestock—anchoring a unified executive push to shield household purchasing power from currency fluctuations and broader regional economic shocks.
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