Jordan and Iraq sign commercial agreement for 1998

Jordan and Iraq signed a commercial agreement between them for 1998 after two days of a talks, which were described by the Iraqi minister of commerce, Mohammed Mahdi Saleh, as being the easiest talks since 1989.

The two sides agreed on signing the agreement at its current value of $255 million, with the Iraqi desire to increase it to $300 million in goods and services.

They agreed to specify $185 million of the agreement's total value, for goods and $70 million for services. For the first time, the agreement includes specifying $7 million to pay debts Jordanian companies have owed to Iraq since before 1990.