Trade Turkey lifts Syria trade barriers to spur growth By Reuters February 12, 2025, 10:47 AM Reuters/Umit Bektas A general view of the commercial harbour of Syria's coastal city of Tartous Turkey has lifted trade and transit restrictions on Syria at the countries’ border, the trade ministry said on Tuesday, progressing with plans to expand trade after the fall of Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad. Goods exported or imported between the two neighbours or transited through Syrian border crossings will now be subject to the same conditions as those applied to other countries, the ministry said. “The existing restriction lists on exports to and transit to Syria through the Turkish customs territory have been lifted,” Turkey’s trade ministry said. Ankara had cut ties with Damascus after the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Since the fall of Syria’s former president Assad last year, Turkey has boosted contact with the new Syrian administration and vowed to help it rebuild. Sanctions on Syrian banks choke economic recovery Turkey hit with tax on Syrian peace dividend Assad’s fall spurs calls to revive Iraq-Syria oil pipeline Turkish companies have major expansion plans for Syria and expect a jump in trade since Assad’s ousting by rebels friendly toward Ankara. Turkey and Syria’s new administration have agreed to re-evaluate customs tariffs for certain products and start talks to re-enact a free trade agreement suspended in 2011.
