Country file

Syria

EU restrictive measures govern part of trade here. The EU's purchases here are mainly agricultural and food products. Regional benchmarks: Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Relationship with the European Union

No preferential trade agreement with the European Union

No preferential regime applies, and EU restrictive measures prohibit or make subject to authorisation part of the trade: the common tariff alone does not determine what may be bought or sold.

Sources reviewed on 17 September 2026

0.2

billion euros of goods purchased by the European Union

2025, full calendar yearEU external trade by product — Eurostat

51.8%

of these purchases: agricultural and food products

2025EU external trade by product — Eurostat

of these purchases: manufactured products

2025EU external trade by product — Eurostat

Economy and sectors

No agreement

No preferential trade agreement with the European Union

trade is governed by standard rules and, where applicable, unilateral preferences that should be verifiedNo preferential regime applies, and EU restrictive measures prohibit or make subject to authorisation part of the trade: the common tariff alone does not determine what may be bought or sold.

Map of trade agreements — European Commission

Third country

regime applicable to European data and access

European framework trackedNo general adequacy decision. The transfer mechanism and its accompanying measures must be chosen according to the actual data flows.

Adequacy decisions — European Commission

Not published

of the population uses the Internet

No comparable national data in the series tracked

Internet use — World Bank / ITU

Economic restrictions

European Union restrictive measures targeting the country

EU Sanctions Map, as at 26 September 2026The EU prohibits or makes subject to authorisation part of trade with this country. Before any contract, check that the goods, the service, the financing and the payment do not fall under any prohibition. Screen the supplier, its directors and its shareholders against the consolidated list of designated persons and entities. Measures in force: asset freezes on designated persons and entities; arms embargo; prohibitions on internal repression and communications surveillance equipment; prohibitions on importing or exporting certain goods; financial and investment restrictions; air, maritime or road transport restrictions; prohibition on satisfying certain claims.

Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012

Incidents, fraud and impersonation

114

secure servers per million inhabitants

2024, latest available figureProviders most often rely on a foreign hosting provider. Ask which one, and under which jurisdiction it operates.

Secure Internet servers — World Bank

Disputed batch

traceability that holds up in a dispute

Cross-cutting controlA dispute over a batch is settled on the evidence: shipping documents, certificates and correspondence must be producible without relying on a single person.

Points to check within your organisation

To be screened

The goods, the service and the payment, before any contract

EU restrictive measures apply to this country or part of its territory. Assess each delivery and each payment against the applicable regulation, and keep a record of party screening: this is what your client or your bank will ask for.

To be traced

The chain through to the manufacturer

The evidence here rests on batch traceability, processing sites and the cold chain. Ask how far back traceability goes and who documents it.

To be governed

The data that travels with the batches

Without an adequacy decision, even traceability data falls under a transfer tool as soon as it identifies individuals. Ask what is actually being transmitted, and under what safeguards.

To be traced

The host behind the provider

Providers most often rely on a foreign host. Ask which one, under what jurisdiction it operates, and what the contract between them provides for.

Developments to be aware of

The topics that may change your answers

EU restrictive measures

The EU prohibits or makes subject to authorisation part of trade with this country. Before any contract, check that the goods, the service, the financing and the payment do not fall under any prohibition. Screen the supplier, its directors and its shareholders against the consolidated list of designated persons and entities. Measures in force: asset freezes on designated persons and entities; arms embargo; prohibitions on internal repression and communications surveillance equipment; prohibitions on importing or exporting certain goods; financial and investment restrictions; air, maritime or road transport restrictions; prohibition on satisfying certain claims.

EU Sanctions Map — European Commission

EU–Syria relationship

No preferential regime applies, and EU restrictive measures prohibit or make subject to authorisation part of the trade: the common tariff alone does not determine what may be bought or sold.

Trade relations by country — European Commission

Data transfers

No general adequacy decision. The transfer mechanism and its accompanying measures must be chosen according to the actual data flows.

Adequacy decisions — European Commission

Export fabric

Export shares retain their year and definition. A missing series remains visible rather than being filled in.

Composition of merchandise exports — World Bank

What this means for your situation

Agricultural and food products: 51.8% of what the EU buys here. The evidence hinges first on batch traceability and processing sites, ahead of technical infrastructure.

Official sources

Confidential exchange

Describe your European relationship and the request received.

The Syria file sets out a country and its relationship with the EU. What remains is to establish how far back your batch traceability goes, and who documents it.

Contact iKNSA