Iraq lifts ban on range of Lebanese agricultural products

BEIRUT — Iraq has lifted a ban on certain Lebanese agricultural products, Industry Minister George Bouchikian announced.Here’s what we know:    • Iraq will allow imports from Lebanon of “beer, soft drinks, juice, energy drinks, mineral water, pasteurized dairy products, packets of corn and potato fries, ice cream, table salt, noodles, pasta, table eggs and live and whole slaughtered chicken,” according to Bouchikian’s statement to the state-run National News Agency.    • Lebanon’s agricultural sector has suffered from the many crises afflicting the country, in addition to specific hardships brought about by geopolitical tensions with some Gulf Arab states that form a traditional market for Lebanese exports. Bans of Lebanese agricultural products are in effect across much of the region....