Iraq's Grand Faw Port and Trade Talks Aim to Boost Regional Commerce

A study in *Academy Review* evaluates Iraq’s Grand Faw Port project, noting its potential to shorten Asia‑Europe transit times and create jobs in construction, transport and manufacturing. The analysis outlines three scenarios ranging from stalled progress to a breakthrough that could position the port as a major logistics hub, while competition from nearby ports such as Kuwait’s Mubarak Al‑Kabeer could limit its success.

In Washington, D.C., Prime Minister Al‑Zaidi led a high‑level delegation that negotiated a proposed $60 billion trade agreement with the United States. The talks focus on rebuilding Iraq’s infrastructure, implementing the Hydrocarbon Law to formalise oil and gas revenue distribution, and securing a memorandum of understanding with Chevron to develop Iraqi fields and establish alternative land‑based export routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. investment is also slated to modernise Iraq’s domestic energy grid, supporting broader industrial growth and greater integration into global trade bodies such as the WTO.