Historic US Trade Delegation Visits Iraq to Strengthen Private Sector Partnerships and Economic Ties
Comprising 101 representatives from the energy, technology, and healthcare sectors, the U.S. delegation marks the largest American trade mission to Iraq in the history of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the embassy said.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A massive U.S. trade delegation representing 60 companies is visiting Iraq this week to deepen economic cooperation with the country’s private sector, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad announced Tuesday, according to AFP.
The three-day mission, which began Monday, comes at a tense time for global markets, as fears of an international recession mount following sweeping tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump—including a 39 percent duty on Iraqi imports.
Comprising 101 representatives from the energy, technology, and healthcare sectors, the U.S. delegation marks the largest American trade mission to Iraq in the history of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the embassy said.
Almost 60 U.S. companies are part of the @ChamberGlobal delegation to Baghdad to strengthen U.S.-Iraq private sector ties and foster fair and balanced trade between the U.S. and Iraq.
— U.S. Embassy Baghdad (@USEmbBaghdad) April 8, 2025
“This partnership will foster long-term economic collaboration,” the U.S. Mission posted on X (formerly Twitter), announcing that a pivotal memorandum of understanding was signed on Monday between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce.
As Iraq seeks to revitalize its economy and attract international investment, the visit signals a significant step forward. According to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office in Iraq, bilateral trade in goods reached $9.1 billion in 2024. U.S. exports to Iraq stood at $1.7 billion, while imports—primarily oil—totaled $7.4 billion.
During the visit, Iraq is also expected to sign a landmark deal with General Electric to build a high-efficiency power plant. Farhad Alaaldin, foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, said the agreement reflects Baghdad’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on Iranian energy imports, which currently account for about a third of the country’s electricity needs.
Unpredictable gas supply cuts from Tehran have often plunged Iraq into electricity crises, especially during the summer months. Baghdad has repeatedly emphasized the need to diversify energy sources and modernize its infrastructure to achieve energy security.
Last year, during Prime Minister Sudani’s visit to Washington, both countries inked several memoranda of understanding in the energy sector, including a maintenance agreement with General Electric to help stabilize Iraq’s struggling power grid.
Iraq is striving to move beyond decades of war, sectarian conflict, and political instability that followed the 2003 U.S.-led Freedom Operation of Iraq. Economic development and international partnerships, such as this historic trade mission, are seen as key pillars in Iraq’s path toward long-term stability and growth.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce signed a pivotal memorandum of understanding to strengthen ties between the US and Iraqi private sectors. This partnership will foster long-term economic collaboration.
— U.S. Embassy Baghdad (@USEmbBaghdad) April 7, 2025
