On 24 April 2025, the UK government published the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which took effect on 25 April 2025 (“Amending Regulations”). These new regulations amend the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 to partially suspend a number of significant sanctions that have been in place for over a decade to reflect the developments to the political situation in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. The UK…
As anticipated in its press release, the EU yesterday published in the Official Journal the first legal instruments underpinning its decision to progressively suspend its sanctions against Syria: Decision 2025/406/CFSP, Council Regulation 2025/407 and Council Implementing Regulation 2025/408. The measures include the suspension of a significant number of sanctions which have been in place for over a decade, most recently contained within Council Regulation 36/2012, as summarised below. Companies considering business in Syria previously restricted…
On June 5, 2024, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) amended the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (“SSR”), 31 C.F.R. Part 542 and issued and amended frequently asked questions (“FAQs”) related to the SSR. According to a new OFAC FAQ, these changes are aimed, in part, at facilitating humanitarian assistance and internet-based communication services to Syrian civilians. The SSR has been revised as follows: OFAC also issued one new SSR FAQ…
On February 17, the Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) in the US Commerce Department announced that it is expediting the processing of export license applications for items needed to aid survivors of the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria through NGOs. While most items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) do not require licenses for export to Türkiye, Syria is subject to comprehensive US export controls and, as such, items subject to the EAR…