U.S. Government Ends Sanctions On Syria

On June 30, President Trump signed Executive Order 14312, "Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions" (EO), which formally terminates many U.S. sanctions on Syria. Public reports indicate that the European Union has also lifted nearly all sanctions on Syria.

While this is a pivotal step toward helping Syria navigate a path to re-engaging with U.S. markets and businesses, most U.S. export restrictions on the country remain in place.

Sanctions Relief Intended to Help Syrian Individuals and Businesses Without Benefitting Past Leaders

The EO follows the May 23 issuance of Syria General License 25 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to authorize transactions involving the interim Syrian government, its central bank, and certain other parties and the simultaneous 180-day waiver issued by the U.S. Department of State of secondary sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act (Caesar Act). OFAC is the primary