From Stratfor.com:
Iraq’s trade minister said Aug. 1 that Iraq trade with Arab countries increased to $26 billion from $14.5 billion in December 2001, Agence France Presse reported. Egypt is Iraq’s leading trade partner, with Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco, Oman, and Yemen following. The trade increase is a result largely of the establishment of free trade agreements between Baghdad and the other countries. Iraq’s growing economic relations with its Arab neighbors are an attempt from the fairly isolated country to complicate any military action by the United States. Increased relations between Iraq and other countries hinders Washington’s efforts to build a coalition in preparation for military action against Baghdad. 1814 GMT