Turkey: Trade restrictions lifted to strengthen ties with Syria

Turkey has removed trade and transit limitations on Syria at their shared border, as announced by the trade ministry on February 11th, advancing plans to enhance trade following the ousting of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, The New Arab via Reuters reported.

Exports and imports between the two neighbouring countries, as well as goods passing through Syrian border crossings, will now be governed by the same regulations that apply to other nations, according to the ministry.

“The existing restriction lists on exports to and transit to Syria through the Turkish Customs Territory have been lifted,” said Turkey’s trade ministry.

After the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Ankara severed its relations with Damascus. 

Following the removal of Syria’s former president Assad last year, Turkey has increased its engagement with the new Syrian administration and has committed to supporting its reconstruction efforts.

Turkish companies have ambitious plans for expansion in Syria and anticipate a significant rise in trade since the removal of Assad by rebels aligned with Ankara.

Turkey’s President Erdogan has also emphasised that Turkey has the power to “crush” all terrorists in Syria, including Kurdish militants and ISIS, a sentiment which aligns with Turkey’s ongoing stance toward the Kurdish YPG group, which it considers a terrorist organisation.

The new administrations of Turkey and Syria have reached an agreement to reassess customs tariffs on specific products and initiate discussions to reinstate a free trade agreement that was put on hold in 2011.

The New Arab via Reuters