A specialized Iraqi committee recently started a visit to the Kingdom to verify the presence of Jordanian factories exported to Iraq, which were included in the decision to exempt from customs duties, according to an informed source.
The source, who asked not to be named for "tomorrow” that the committee is composed of government agencies and representatives of the Iraqi private sector is also checking the actual production capacity of factories, noting that the purpose of this step is to ensure the export of products manufactured in Jordan to the Iraqi market.
The Iraqi authorities agreed to activate the decision of the Iraqi Council of Ministers adopted in 2017 to exempt the Jordanian list of goods from customs duties, after negotiations aimed at determining the list of goods that do not cause harm to the industry and local Iraqi agriculture, because the exempted goods are not produced in Iraq or the production does not cover The need of the Iraqi market.
The decision to exempt about 344 Jordanian products from Iraqi customs duties, which amounted to 30% according to the product out of a list of 750 products was delivered by Jordan to Iraq in 2017.
On the same level, the same source said that the Iraqi Commission is currently selecting a number of factories in each sector covered by the decision of exemption, expected to finish its work on Thursday.
The source pointed to the presence of quantities of Jordanian goods began to export to the Iraqi market without customs duties based on the activation of the decision to exempt them from these fees by the Iraqi authorities.
The head of the Irbid Chamber of Industry, Hani Abu Hassan, said that the Iraqi committee is currently in Jordan to verify the Jordanian product and verify the production capacity of the factories. Abu Hassan stressed that the industrial sector welcomes the presence of the committee and visits of Jordanian factories to emphasize the credibility and quality of Jordanian products, which are manufactured within the highest specifications in more than 130 countries.
Abu Hassan said that the Jordanian product has become a major brand in many export markets, which increases the Jordanian manufacturer's keenness to maintain its presence in these markets through quality and competitive price.
Abu Hassan said the list of goods and products exempt from Iraqi customs duties would increase the movement of national exports to the Iraqi market during the coming period. He called for the need to include among the committee members from the Jordanian side so as not to be a committee unilaterally, and the facts are conveyed objectively.
 The Chairman of the Jordan Exporters Association, Eng. Omar Abu Shisha, stressed that Jordan enjoys the existence of high quality industries and competitive prices, as evidenced by its arrival in more than 130 countries around the world. He pointed out that the Iraqi market is one of the promising markets to increase national antagonisms in the coming period, especially as it accounted for more than 25% of the total national exports.
 The President of the Assembly that the customs exemptions provided by the Iraqi authorities to Jordan is very important and helps to increase national exports and increase their competitiveness within this market.
 He pointed out that the industrial sector looks at Iraq as a partner in various fields in light of the historical ties and historical relations between the two countries.
He urged Jordanian companies, whose products included the decision to exempt from customs duties, to benefit from this decision by intensifying contact with Iraqi merchants and seeking to conclude commercial deals and find agents for their products.
Aaccording to the latest official data released by the Department of Statistics, the value of national exports to Iraq during the last year rose by 26.7% to reach 465.9 million dinars compared to 367.7 million dinars during the same period of 2017.
Jordanian exports to Iraq peaked in 2013 to reach 882 million dinars, while in 2017 fell to 367 million.

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