Washington updates sanctions guidelines on Syria after Caesar Act repeal

The United States announced revised sanctions and export controls guidelines for Syria, a formal step reflecting the repeal of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and opening the door to broader trade while maintaining certain restrictions.

The update came in a joint guidance bulletin issued by the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, and the Treasury (Office of Foreign Assets Control), as part of a broader political and economic process to reset Washington's engagement with Syria after years of comprehensive sanctions.

The revised document clarified that U.S. sanctions are no longer all-encompassing and no longer constitute a major obstacle to most trade activities related to Syria. It emphasized that the U.S. Congress formally repealed the Caesar Act and its associated mandatory sanctions, ending one of the most stringent sanctions regimes in recent years.

The guidelines indicated that the transfer of most U.S. goods with primary civilian uses, as well as software and technology, is now permitted to Syria or within Syria without prior authorization, a move aimed at supporting the revitalization of the economic and service sectors.

Ongoing restrictions

Despite this relative opening, the document emphasized that sanctions have not been completely lifted. They remain in place against individuals and entities that Washington considers "the worst," including "Bashar al-Assad and his associates, as well as human rights abusers, those involved in the Captagon trade, and regional entities that the United States deems destabilizing."

The US government also confirmed the continuation of its "review of Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism," noting that most items on the "Trade Controls List" destined for Syria still require export licenses, particularly those with sensitive or dual uses.

In summarizing the US attitude, the document stated that President Donald Trump is working to fulfill his pledge to give Syria "an opportunity to rebuild and prosper" by lifting sanctions, while maintaining accountability mechanisms targeting entities Washington deems harmful.

The United States affirmed the adoption of new policies and regulations to encourage American and international companies and banks, as well as regional partners, to contribute to Syria's stability, while reserving other legal authorities, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, to be used when necessary for national security reasons.

On December 18, Trump signed an executive order rescinding the sanctions imposed under the Caesar Act, following its passage in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, thus paving the way for the latest update to the official guidelines.

J.J