Canada becomes latest Western country to lift Syria sanctions: What to know
Like the US, Canada had strained relations with Syria during the civil war but is now showing signs of engagement.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry praised Canada on Thursday for lifting decades-long sanctions, paving the way for trade and political normalization between Damascus and Ottawa.
What happened: The ministry said the Canadian decision "reflects a shift toward dialogue and cooperation based on mutual respect,” adding that the sanctions relief will help enable reconstruction and efforts to improve living conditions in Syria, the official news outlet SANA reported.
Syrian Central Bank chief Abdulkader Husarieh issued a statement praising the move on Friday, saying it will enable cooperation between financial institutions in the country.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced amendments to the Special Economic Measures Regulations for Syria on Wednesday, noting a lifting of “broad economic prohibitions” that targeted the regime of deposed President Bashar al-Assad. The changes include the easing of restrictions on imports and exports, investment activities and the provision of services, including those linked to finance, telecommunications and petroleum, Global Affairs Canada said in a statement.
