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
FOR INFORMATION ON TRADE AND FINANCIAL SANCTIONS, PLEASE CLICK HERE
U.S. – Syria Trade Statistics 2007
Month | Exports | Imports | Balance |
| January 2007 | 25.7 | 51.4 | -25.7 |
| February 2007 | 37.9 | 3.4 | 34.4 |
| March 2007 | 23.1 | 2.7 | 20.4 |
| April 2007 | 21.8 | 3.8 | 18.0 |
| May 2007 | 12.2 | 3.5 | 8.7 |
| June 2007 | 10.9 | 2.4 | 8.5 |
| July 2007 | 32.4 | 2.3 | 30.1 |
| August 2007 | 6.7 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| September 2007 | 61.2 | 2.9 | 58.2 |
| October 2007 | 45.2 | 5.5 | 39.7 |
| November 2007 | 56.5 | 26.6 | 29.9 |
| December 2007 | 27.9 | 2.5 | 25.4 |
| TOTAL | 361.4 | 110.5 | 250.9 |
NOTE: All figures are in millions of U.S. dollars
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, Data Dissemination Branch, Washington, D.C. 20233
U.S. - Syria Trade Statistics 1992 – 2007
Commercial Section
