Overview

• President Trump signed the executive order on June 30 to terminate the U.S. sanctions program on Syria, revoking five executive orders dating back to 2004 effective July 1.
• The order maintains sanctions on Bashar al-Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, ISIS affiliates and Iranian proxy groups.
• It implements waivers under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act to facilitate foreign investment and aid flows for infrastructure rehabilitation and economic recovery.
• The executive order directs the State Department to review Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s designation as a foreign terrorist organization and to reassess Syria’s status as a state sponsor of terrorism.
• Statutory measures such as the Caesar Act remain in force and can only be fully repealed through congressional action.