A joint council set up under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries has held its first meeting. The joint council provides a forum for discussion in relation to trade issues such as the rights of employees, transparency and intellectual property rights. The joint council will look at ways to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers to cross border investment between the countries. Iraq will consider removing the compliance burden involved when US companies tender for Iraq government projects and the US will continue to support Iraq’s aspiration for membership of the World Trade Organization.