Turkey’s Commerce Ministry: Enhancements in Trade Relations with Syria
Turkey’s Commerce Ministry has outlined that trade interactions with Syria were significantly constrained during the Assad regime. However, newly introduced measures at border crossings indicate a shift towards improved economic collaboration post-regime.
On February 11, 2025, the Turkish Commerce Ministry announced, “Following the fall of the Assad regime, economic and trade relations between Syria and Turkey have progressed significantly.”
The Ministry explained that during the Assad administration, trade between the nations faced various limitations. It emphasized that forthcoming initiatives related to “export, import, and customs-free shipping” will be implemented at their border crossings.
According to the Turkish Commerce Ministry, prior policies regarding border trade will be discarded, facilitating the opening of land borders with Syria. This new approach will allow for imports and exports free from customs duties, akin to arrangements with “third countries.”
In addition to mineral resources, numerous goods from Syria will flow through Turkey’s border crossings without incurring customs fees, as stated in an official release from the Ministry.
Furthermore, goods imported from Syria into Turkey will be categorized similarly to products from “third countries,” particularly in the context of food security and customs duties.
The term “third countries” refers to nations that hold distinct technological, political, and economic ties.
A Turkish delegation, headed by Deputy Commerce Minister Mustafa Tuzcu, visited Damascus on December 23, where they met with Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed Dkhan and Qutayba Badawi, the head of the Syrian Water and Sild Borders Board.
The Ministry relayed, “We will collaborate with the Syrian government to enable Turkish firms that have operated in select regions of Syria to extend their activities nationwide and explore potential investment opportunities.”
