In February 2026, the Iraqi Competition and Antitrust Council (CAC) issued their Guideline on Mergers and Restrictive Commercial Practices, marking the first structured, procedural framework since the Iraqi legislator enacted the Iraqi Competition and Antitrust Law 14/2010 in early 2010. While the Competition Law has existed for over a decade, enforcement was theoretical. The Guideline now for the first time operationalizes existing provisions, clarifies how the CAC intends to review mergers, acquisitions, and restrictive agreements, and sheds light on the CAC's interpretation of the law. Still, overall the Guidelines remain ambiguous in several parts, thereby, leaving considerable challenges for businesses and investors navigating the Iraqi merger control and antitrust regimes.
