Türkiye and Syria have agreed to reassess customs tariffs on sure merchandise and held discussions on financial and commerce relations throughout conferences in Damascus, an announcement mentioned on Friday.
Turkish and Syrian officers additionally agreed to begin negotiations to re-enact the free commerce settlement (FTA) suspended in 2011, when the civil struggle started in Syria, Türkiye’s Trade Ministry mentioned.
Last week, media stories indicated that Syria had determined to extend customs tariffs on Turkish imports by 300% to 500%, leaving kilometers-long truck traces piling up close to border crossings between the 2 nations.
However, the Trade Ministry per week in the past mentioned that the newly applied tariff system, efficient as of Jan. 11, was not unique to Turkish items however utilized equally throughout all borders and customs administrations.
The assertion on Friday mentioned a Turkish commerce delegation met with Syrian officers in Damascus on Thursday to debate the present state of bilateral relations. The talks centered on financial and commerce ties, customs laws, and a highway map for future cooperation.
Türkiye has been the principle backer of the opposition forces that ousted longtime dictator Bashar Assad final month and has since pledged to assist Syria’s reconstruction and financial revival.
Following Assad’s fall, officers expressed optimism that the commerce quantity between Türkiye and Syria may attain $10 billion within the close to future.
The quantity stood at $2.3 billion in 2010, in accordance with the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), earlier than the civil struggle broke out. Syria’s financial construction quickly collapsed as of 2011 because of the struggle, which severely impacted items trade with Türkiye.
In 2012, the commerce quantity plummeted to $565 million. It elevated through the years however by no means achieved pre-2011 ranges. According to the TurkStat information, Türkiye exported items value over $1.95 billion to Syria in 2024.
During the conferences in Damscus, Syria agreed to customs tariffs for particular merchandise to facilitate smoother commerce between the 2 nations, the Trade Ministry mentioned.
The most vital end result was the settlement to restart negotiations for reinstating the Türkiye-Syria free commerce deal. The ministry mentioned the brand new strategy seeks to determine a broader financial partnership.
The discussions additionally recognized key areas for bilateral cooperation, together with commerce in industrial and agricultural merchandise, transit and bilateral transportation and contracting and development companies with a view to revive the Syrian financial system, the assertion mentioned.
Syrian officers emphasised the important thing function Turkish corporations may play in Syria’s reconstruction efforts and the revival of its industrial sector.
Turkish companies, which have up to now offered companies solely to sure areas of Syria, will now have alternatives to function all through the nation and consider funding potential in coordination with the Syrian administration, the assertion mentioned.
The sides additionally determined to strengthen the present coordination to handle the rising visitors at business crossing factors with Syria extra rapidly and effectively.
Source: www.dailysabah.com