Iraq is planning to import cooking oil from Egypt, the trade ministry said on Sunday, as Baghdad moves to reduce its dependence on Turkish products amid political tension.

An Iraqi government trade delegation is holding talks in Cairo to buy cooking oil for the monthly food ration that the authorities supply for free to the population, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

The Iraqi trade ministry in December said it planned to reduce government imports of cooking oil from Turkey.

Baghdad objects to a deployment of Turkish troops in northern Iraq that Ankara says is part of efforts to fight Islamic State.  - Reuters