Türkiye lifts trade restrictions on exports, transit to Syria

Türkiye has removed existing restrictions on exports and transit shipments to Syria, marking a significant step toward normalizing trade relations between the two nations, the Turkish Trade Ministry announced.

New trade regulations implemented

The updated regulations, effective as of Feb. 8, replace policies that were in place under Syria’s previous regime.

The ministry stated that the decision aligns with Türkiye’s broader roadmap for economic engagement with Syria, which has been unfolding step by step since December 8, 2024.

Under the new guidelines:

• Restrictions on exports and transit shipments to Syria via the Turkish Customs Zone have been lifted.
• Goods transported from Türkiye to Syria will now be subject to the same trade conditions as shipments to other countries.
• Transit procedures for goods leaving Syria for third countries have been liberalized, with the exception of scrap metal.
• Import restrictions from Syria have been removed, placing Syrian imports under Türkiye’s standard trade regulations.

Equal trade conditions for Syrian imports

Previously, certain goods from Syria required special permissions before entering Türkiye. The revised rules eliminate these restrictions, meaning:

• Syrian imports will now be processed under the same customs, product safety, and tariff regulations as those from other nations.
• Existing product inspections and tax regulations will be uniformly applied to all imports.

The ministry emphasized that this move is part of an ongoing effort to foster a more open and integrated trade environment.

Türkiye’s roadmap for economic engagement with Syria

The changes come amid what the Turkish government describes as a “new period” in Türkiye-Syria relations.

“The roadmap created by our government in line with the agreement reached with Syria regarding the new period is being implemented step by step,” the ministry statement said.