Omanghana
Egypt has lifted a two-week ban that prevented empty, privately operated Iraqi trucks from entering the country, allowing cross-border freight operations to resume.
The restriction, which took effect on August 1, 2026, was officially removed on August 17 following diplomatic discussions between Egyptian and Iraqi authorities.
Egypt’s Land Transport Regulatory Authority introduced the suspension after complaints from local heavy-vehicle operators and trucking companies. Egyptian transport businesses argued that foreign trucks entering the country without cargo were competing for freight contracts that could otherwise have been handled by domestic operators.
The dispute also involved several unresolved transportation requirements between the two countries. These included efforts to secure Iraqi visas for Egyptian truck drivers, establish reciprocal access for Egyptian vehicles travelling into Iraq and clarify cargo-transfer procedures at the Jordan-Iraq border.
The Iraqi embassy in Cairo played a key role in negotiations that led to the reopening. Following the agreement, Iraq’s Ministry of Transport confirmed that empty Iraqi trucks had resumed entering Egypt.
Officials from both countries are expected to hold technical meetings in Baghdad in late September. The discussions will focus on implementing the bilateral road-transport agreement signed in 2025 and resolving outstanding rules governing empty trucks.
The talks are also expected to explore sustainable arrangements for bilateral freight transit, with both sides seeking to prevent similar disruptions and improve the movement of goods between Egypt and Iraq.
Source: Omanghana
