BAGHDAD, Nov 3: Iraq will shortly apply to join the World Trade Organisation, interim trade minister Ali Allawi said Monday.

We are going to apply to join the WTO, he told a press conference.

As a first step, Iraq could become an observer before becoming a (full) member.

Allawi said he expected it to take up to 18 months for Iraq’s application for full membership to be accepted.

The application would be made “very soon”, he said.

Membership would enable Iraq to take advantage of the lifting of restrictions on Iraqi products .... (and) economic opportunities which will come from the opening of international markets to Iraq, after more than a decade of UN sanctions.

US officials have urged Iraq to join the WTO, which supervises international commerce and trade liberalisation.—AFP