U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones and Iraq’s Minister of Trade Salman al-Jumayli signed a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, in mid-July on the purchase and supply of U.S. rice for the Iraqi public distribution system. Millions of Iraqis will benefit from the high-quality and competitively-priced rice from the United States.
In signing the MOU, the Ambassador affirmed the U.S. Embassy’s intention to promote awareness of the Ministry’s rice tenders with U.S. rice suppliers that can best meet the needs of the Iraqi market.
This agreement is a positive outcome of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Iraq Concerning the Development of Trade and Investment Relations. The MOU will be operative for six months with the possibility of renewal.
Ambassador Jones said, “This MOU represents a win-win for Iraq and the United States and is a sign of how our two countries can strengthen commercial ties to the ultimate economic benefit of both our peoples.” The Ambassador added, “The U.S. Embassy is committed to providing technical assistance to enhance Ministry of Trade officials’ expertise with respect to purchasing agricultural products on the international market.”
