Allawi: Israeli goods enter Iraq through independent traders

Iraq's trade minister Ali Allawi denied any trade agreement to have been finalized between Iraq and Israel.

He ruled out completely this possibility and described information which talk about similar agreements as "just rumors." The Iraqi minister said that the "ministry has no intention to import any commodity from Israel."

He added in a press conference held in Baghdad "It is not correct that Iraq had imported ( iron and steel ) for construction from Israel." But Allawi explained that certain Israeli goods might have arrived into the Iraqi markets "because there are no restrictions on imported goods." He continued "should there be actually any Israeli goods in the markets, this would be as a result of independent traders."

Some say that Israeli goods can be found in Baghdad's markets and the Iraqi press deplore the existence of such goods. Rumors disseminated among the Iraqis saying that the Israelis "invaded the construction market and they are buying lands in Iraq."