Trade between Turkey and Syria faces crisis: Exports come to a standstill

İbrahim Fuat Özçörekçi, Chairman of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) Turkey-Syria Business Council, stated in an announcement yesterday that efforts were underway to reach a trade volume of 10 billion dollars between Turkey and Syria in the short to medium term. However, the new interim government established in Syria decided today to increase customs duties on imports from Turkey by 300 to 500 percent.

This situation has brought trade between the two countries to a near standstill, leaving many sectors facing major difficulties. Companies exporting from Turkey to Syria are awaiting government intervention to resolve the issue.

NEW ADMINISTRATION CAUSES DIFFICULTIES IN TRADE

The new government formed after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024 has significantly increased customs duties on products coming from Turkey. This decision has also caused serious problems at border crossings in northern Syria. It has been reported that exports in sectors such as grain, pulses, and food products have come to a near standstill.

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION EXPECTED

Celal Kadooğlu, Chairman of the Southeastern Anatolia Grain, Pulses, Oil Seeds and Products Exporters' Association, stated that this increase has brought Turkey's exports to Syria to a near standstill. Kadooğlu expressed that diplomatic and commercial interventions must be made immediately.

ECONOMIC IMPACTS AND INFLATION RISK IN SYRIA

Food products and other sectors, which make up the majority of Turkey's exports to Syria, are at risk of suffering serious losses due to these high taxes. Kadooğlu stated that they are in constant communication with the relevant ministries to resolve this issue and emphasized that the decisions of the new administration in Syria could have negative effects on Syrian citizens.

TRUCK QUEUES FORMED AT THE BORDER

Exporters stated that high customs duties increase their costs and make it difficult for their products to cross the border. Kadooğlu noted that while exports to Syria averaged around 30 million dollars in 2024, this figure has now dropped to zero. Truck queues at the border make the situation even more apparent.

News Source: 12punto