Canada eases economic sanctions on Syria

TORONTO -  Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand said on Wednesday that Canada had amended its economic sanctions on Syria to ease restrictions related to the import and export of goods, investment activities and the provision of financial and other services.

"The amendments also remove 24 entities and one individual from the Syria Regulations to  reduce barriers to economic activity and to enable transactions with state-affiliated entities in key sectors critical to Syria’s recovery," Anand said in a statement.

These measures build on earlier steps, including a six-month general permit issued in February 2025 and extended through February 2026, which allowed financial transactions through Syria's Central Bank and other institutions for aid and democratization efforts. Ottawa committed $84 million in new humanitarian funding, aligning with partners like the US, UK, and EU to boost aid delivery amid Syria's poverty crisis.

Following Bashar al-Assad's ouster by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in late 2024, Canada removed Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list in December 2025. The moves encourage the transitional government's inclusive reforms while maintaining sanctions on human rights violators. This reflects growing international support for Syria's stabilization after years of conflict.