Syria unable to import wheat, fuel due to US sanctions, trade minister says

DAMASCUS – Syria is unable to make deals to import fuel, wheat or other key goods owing to strict US sanctions and despite many countries, including Gulf Arab states, wanting to do so, Syria’s new Trade Minister said.

In an interview with Reuters at his office in Damascus, Mr Maher Khalil al-Hasan said Syria’s new ruling administration had managed to scrape together enough wheat and fuel for a few months but the country faces a “catastrophe” if sanctions are not frozen or lifted soon.

Mr Hasan is a member of the new caretaker government set up by Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham after it launched a lightning offensive that

toppled autocratic President Bashar al-Assad

on Dec 8 after 13 years of civil war.

The sanctions were imposed during Mr Assad’s rule, targeting his government and also state institutions such as the central bank.

Russia and Iran, both major backers of the Assad government, previously provided most of Syria’s wheat and oil products, but both

stopped doing so

after the rebels triumphed and Mr Assad fled to Moscow.

The US is set to announce an easing of restrictions on providing humanitarian aid and other basic services such as electricity to Syria while maintaining its strict sanctions regime, people briefed on the matter told Reuters on Jan 6.

The exact impact of the expected measures remains to be seen.

The decision by the outgoing Biden administration aims to send a signal of goodwill to Syria’s people and its new Islamist rulers, and pave the way for improving basic services and living conditions in the war-ravaged country.

At the same time, US officials see the sanctions as a key point of leverage with a new ruling group that was designated a terrorist entity by Washington several years ago but which, after breaking with Islamist militant group Al-Qaeda, has recently signalled a more moderate approach.

Washington wants to see Damascus embark on an inclusive political transition and to cooperate on counter-terrorism and other matters.

Mr Hasan told Reuters he was aware of reports that some sanctions may soon be eased or frozen. REUTERS