Directorate-General for Trade

Syria

Most of Syria's export to the EU are energy goods along with some agricultural and textile products. The Syrian economy remains relatively closed. However, the government is reforming economic and trade-related legal framework. Syria is part of the Euromed process which aims to extend free trade across the Mediterranean region, with the aim of creating a Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area by 2010. In December 2008 Syria and the EU initialled an Association Agreement. Once signed and in force the agreement has the potential to significantly improve trade in both goods and services between the EU and Syria.

South-South integration

To help bring about change, an essential component of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership is the pursuit of greater economic integration in the Mediterranean region. Several steps aimed at helping Syria drawing benefits from economic integration with other countries in the Mediterranean region have already been taken in the Euromed partnership. One of these is the inclusion of the Mediterranean countries into the pan-European system of cumulation of origin, the so-called pan-euro-med cumulation. When applied, the system will generate new opportunities for operators in countries like Syria to re-export goods made from components imported from elsewhere without losing their preferential access to the EU market. The relevant protocol on pan-euro-med rules of origin is included into the draft EU-Syria Association Agreement.

FTA between Syria and Turkey entered into force on 1 January 2007.

WTO

Syria applied for WTO membership in October 2001, but has made little accession progress. In 2005 Syria renewed its request to pursue WTO accession.