The effect of the phenomenon of commodity dumping on the local food industries and the behavior of the Iraqi consumer

The policy of commodity dumping since 2003 led to the decline of the Iraqi food industrial sector due to the low competitiveness of Iraqi food products compared with the same imported products offered in the local market. This contributed to the closure of many food factories in the country, the decrease in their production capacity, and high unemployment rates, and that all resulted in the moving of foreign currencies abroad. The study demonstrated that all three food industries sectors that participated in the survey have been affected by different proportions of dumping from 2003 until now, most affected, were dairy and ice cream companies, ready and frozen canned food companies, drinks juices and bottled water companies respectively. The policy of commodity dumping and the offering of imported food products from some countries such as Turkey, Iran, and China on street sidewalks at a reduced price has led also to an increase in the tendency towards consumption by the Iraqi consumer.