The United States has taken steps to provide sanctions relief to Syria, aiming to support the country’s recovery and reconstruction efforts. The move, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to promote peace and stability in Syria and its relations with neighboring countries.
In accordance with President Trump’s promise, a 180-day waiver of mandatory Caesar Act sanctions has been issued to ensure that these sanctions do not hinder the ability of partners to invest in stability-driving initiatives. This waiver will facilitate the provision of essential services such as electricity, energy, water, and sanitation, as well as enable a more effective humanitarian response across Syria.
Additionally, the Department of the Treasury has issued Syria General License (GL) 25, which authorizes transactions by U.S. persons previously prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations. This move effectively lifts sanctions on Syria, allowing for new investment and private sector activity consistent with the President’s America First strategy.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has also provided exceptive relief to permit U.S. financial institutions to maintain correspondent accounts for the Commercial Bank of Syria.
These actions represent an important step in delivering on President Trump’s vision of a new relationship between Syria and the United States. The Secretary of State emphasized that relief will be followed by prompt action by the Syrian government on key policy priorities.
The sanctions waiver is issued pursuant to section 7432(b)(1) of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note).
This move is part of the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs’ efforts to engage with Syria in a positive manner, while maintaining a focus on counter threat finance and sanctions.