President Trump Revokes Syria Sanctions

President Trump revoked US sanctions against Syria. The Executive Order ("EO") reflects a shift in US foreign policy toward the country following a leadership change in Damascus.

According to the new EO, effective July 1, 2025, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338 (2004) is terminated. The new EO also revoked five related Orders issued between 2006 and 2011. These Orders authorized blocking property transactions, prohibiting exports and sanctioning individuals linked to the former regime of Bashar al-Assad.

The EO instructed the Secretaries of State, Treasury and Commerce to issue rules and waivers to lift export controls and other restrictions. The President authorized these departments to remove licensing and financial barriers (except where linked to terrorism, chemical weapons or narcotics trafficking).

The EO also directed the Secretary of State to evaluate whether conditions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act have been met to justify suspending its sanctions, and to notify Congress within 30 days of any decision to do so. It further mandates the issuance of a waiver under the Syria Accountability Act for certain export restrictions and invokes a national security determination to do so.

Under the EO, the Secretary of State is also instructed to review Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism and to work with the United Nations to facilitate sanctions relief aligned with US policy objectives.

The EO did not extend relief to entities affiliated with ISIS, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, or persons responsible for human rights abuses or trafficking. It also mandated the continuation of sanctions under Executive Order 13894 (2019), as amended, to specifically target individuals tied to the former Assad regime and those who obstruct Syria's transition.