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Commercial Affairs

Commercial Office Functions

Due to the imposition of trade and financial sanctions on Syria, the Commercial Office at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus:

  • Enforces the implementation of sanctions by explaining American export regulations and licensing processes to Syrian importers
  • Conducts post-shipment verifications, as requested by the Department of Commerce, to verify that Syrian importers of U.S. origin products are complying with the requirements of the export license process

The Commercial Office provides advice and guidance to American companies by offering the following services:

  • Briefing American companies on the country's economic and political environment
  • Helping U.S. companies access appropriate host government officials
  • Informing U.S. companies of the protections afforded by existing bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and applicable multilateral conventions

Please note that due to the implementation of the Syrian Accountability Act, and the current political and economic environment, the Commercial Office at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus suspended the following services:

  • Alerting American companies to trade and investment opportunities
  • Helping devise an effective strategy for U.S. business in the country
  • Providing advice on best tactics for pursuing business opportunities in the country
  • Sharing information on the commercial agenda and strategies of foreign companies and governments

Commercial Office Achievements

  • Annual publication of the Country Commercial Guide that describes the Syrian economic and investment climate by providing updated figures and data from multiple sources
  • Encouraging a mutual exchange of ideas and understanding through the development of a Syrian Women in Business Group
  • Facilitating the flow of information between U.S. and Syrian business communities
  • Providing information to a number of Syrian importers to enable them to successfully comply with trade and financial sanctions against Syria
  • Successfully conducting post shipment verifications, as part of the licensing process, to ensure that Syrian importers of U.S. origin products have complied with the requirements of the export license issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

U.S. – Syria Trade Statistics 2009

NOTE: All figures are in millions of U.S. dollars, and not seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.

Month

Exports

Imports

Balance

Jan-09

28.8

21

7.8

Feb-09

21.6

13.7

7.9

Mar-09

27.7

18.6

9.1

Apr-09

22.8

18.4

4.4

May-09

26.7

27.3

-0.6

Jun-09

29.3

2.3

27

TOTAL

157.1

101.3

55.7


U.S. – Syria Trade Statistics 2008

Month

 Exports Imports Balance
January 2008   47.9 58.0 -10.0
February 2008 43.7 34.2 9.5
March 2008 14.5 34.6 -20.2
April 2008 42.8 2.2 40.6
May 2008 20.1 2.3 17.8
June 2008 70.0 5.1 64.9
July 2008 22.9 53.7 -30.8
August 2008 44.3 51.4 -7.0
September 2008 17.1 71.0 -53.8
October 2008 56.0 10.8 45.2 
November 2008 18.4 26.3 -7.9
December 2008 -- -- --
TOTAL 397.8 349.6 48.2
  • 'TOTAL' may not add due to rounding.
  • Table reflects only those months for which there was trade.
  • CONTACT: Data Dissemination Branch, U.S. Census Bureau, (301) 763-2311

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, Data Dissemination Branch, Washington, D.C. 20233.

 U.S. - Syria Trade Statistics 1992 – 2009

FOR INFORMATION ON TRADE AND FINANCIAL SANCTIONS, PLEASE CLICK HERE


 

Reports & Statistics

• Country Commercial Guide 09 (pdf. 520 KB)
• U.S. – Syria Trade Statistics