Iraq and Kurdistan near agreement on resuming northern oil exports.

Iraqi and Turkish officials are set to meet to discuss a new arrangement for Iraqi oil exports via Turkey after an international tribunal penalized Turkey last week over Kurdish oil exports without Baghdad’s consent. The Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ruled in favor of Iraq last week and ordered Ankara to pay Baghdad some $1.4 billion in damages for 2014-2018. The halt of oil flow prompted Washington to urge Ankara and Baghdad to resume the flow. A win-win solution appears unlikely between the sides in the short run, but at least all parties appear open to discuss a new road map to avoid falling into a lose-lose trap.