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US President Donald Trump meets with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in this material published on May 14, 2025.
Saudi Press Agency Through Reuters
In May, speaking with the captured crowd in Ritz-Carlton, US President Donald Trump stunned the listeners announcement He would order a complete lifting of US sanctions on Syria, many of which were on the site of decades.
“Now, their time is shining … Syrian successes,” Trump said.
Less than three months later the Trump administration hit Syria The highest tariff rate Any country in the world: 41%.
Syria is very little trading with the US because of long-standing sanctions, but some trade between them exists. In 2023, Syria exported $ 11.3 million to the US, reports Observatory for economic complexity, and imported US goods worth $ 1.29 million, technically giving a trade deficit with an impoverished country of the Middle East.
Trump says widely criticized Applies to each country in April using trading deficit numbers – designed to resolve trade imbalance. He did not comment on the Syria’s case.
But since he is confronted with the ghost of his devastated state after 13 years of war under the new government with a very shaky power, the country needs all the help she can receive, regional analysts believe – no further punishment.
“After many years of devastating civil war, the country is very much needed in significant foreign direct investment to start a long and complex process of reconstruction and development,” said CNBC Giorgio Cafiero, CNBC CEO.
“While the recent rise in many US, UK and EU sanctions has become welcome for Damascus’s economic ambitions, the introduction of Washington on steep tariffs now threatens any potential for significant trade with the United States.”
Fell down the state
Syria has been appointed state sponsor of terrorism since 1979. US sanctions were imposed on the country in 2004 and again in 2011, after the regime of then President Bashar al -Assad began severe repression on anti -government uprisings.
About 14 years since the country, the country has been devastated by a civil war, violence in sectarian violence and violent terrorist attacks, and the Islamic State came across the country in 2014 and the subsequent bombing campaign to eradicate the extremist group.
The appearance of the drone shows the city of Damascus, after the fighters of the ruling Syrian body flowed Syria Bashar Assad, Syria, December 13, 2024.
Josry Aljamal | Reuters
A Tear off Assad’s mode during the shock offensive In December 2024, in the fight against Assad in December 2024, the world community stunned and caused the prospect of a new beginning for the destroyed country. Syria’s new President Ahmed al-Sharaa-existent Member of al-Qaeda, who describes himself as reformed, is currently managing the transitional government of the country.
Syria remained under numerous international sanctions, but those that the US imposed were the most difficult when they addressed with third parties, and, holding back other countries and groups that were committed with the country.
Recently, since Trump’s time The official lifting of sanctions In June, Syria hosted delegations from several countries, including the US and the wealthy Gulf states that promise support and investment for reconstruction. At the same time, it was caused by outbreaks of sectaries in different parts of the country and volleys of Israeli explosions.
More than two -thirds of Syria’s power grids have unfunningAccording to assistance organizations, with such major cities as Aleppo and Damascus, which are before the shutdown more than 20 hours a day. Many rural and conflict areas have no power.
“This is not a fighting economy as much as an economy, which seems to be almost constantly in the last few months, at the border of collapse, if very active steps have not been taken to reinforce it and allow it to recover,” said Helier, senior officer of the Royal Institute of United Services in London.
“So, any step that deviates from this, I think, is very dangerous.”
Recently, Qatar announced the project by which its development fund will buy gas and provide Syria – transported through Azerbaijan and Turkey – to support more than 5 million people, waiting for improvement of daily nutrition by as much as 40%.
Fahad al-Sulati, CEO of the Qatari Foundation Foundation, told how Damascus will need to rely on the help of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Nations-Nations now, when tariffs to the detriment of the opportunity to develop favorable trade ties with the United States also stated that Qatar was in close contact with the US government.
“We cooperate very closely with our partners in the US. That’s why from the first day … We work very closely with the Treasury … We take with us to create a good economic system,” said Al-Sulati CNBC.
“Fade” on the new government of Syria?
Economic observers point out that the tariff itself by 41% will have a slight impact on the destroyed Syria economy, as the bilateral trade between the two countries is so small.
“But the symbolism behind this decision carries a much greater weight than the trade figures believe,” the Capital said.
“The fact that Syria was allocated for the highest tariffs, after weakening most sanctions, the precise and calculated message from the Trump administration: Washington is ready to weaken its economic seizure after the regimity, but only under the conditions defined by the White House.”
One of the interpretations, suggested that the cafe is that the tariffs can be a way of pressure on Damascus to normalize relations with Israel, which attacks and occupies parts of Syria.
“In this sense,” he said, “economic policy is reminiscent of a kind of” leash “designed to set up al-Shara’s political behavior and broader events on Earth.”
Security analysts warn that instability in some parts of the country can translate it into an open war and a much greater humanitarian crisis if it does not receive support – economic, humanitarian and diplomatic – what it needs.
The US Messenger in Syria, Tom Barack, expressed full support for Washington for Syria and the al-Sharaa government, and recently announced investment initiatives that support catarrh into the country.
It is unclear whether it supports the introduction of the tariff administration; The State Department and the White House did not respond to CNBC’s requests.
Ultimately, the tariffs themselves may have limited direct economic consequences, but “their psychological and diplomatic impact should not be underestimated,” the cafe warned. “I read that they reflect the intention of Washington to keep the leverage in Syria’s future.”
