📰 Diverging customs policies drive skyrocketing prices in northern Syria

RAQQA, syria (North Press) – Rising construction and living costs are forcing residents of northern Syria to abandon plans and adapt to soaring prices, a circumstances largely linked to the diverging customs policies of the syrian-network-urges-transitional-authorities-to-remove-war-criminals-from-government-institutions/" class="smart-internal-link" title="⚔️ Syrian Network Urges Transitional Authorities to Remove War Criminals from Government Institutions">syrian/" class="auto-internal-link">syrian transitional administration and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). Imad Abdullah, 32, halted finishing work on his emerging apartment on the outskirts of Raqqa city after material and labor costs surged to unprecedented levels. Abdullah, relocated from his hometown of Tel Abyad during the Turkish armed forces operation in 2019, had bought a minor flat in the al-Qitar Street neighborhood in northern Raqqa, hoping to escape rental burdens after losing hope of returning home. However, soaring prices have left him unable to complete the finishing work. The impact of rising costs extends beyond construction materials to most basic goods, a circumstances closely linked to the diverging customs policies between the Syrian transitional administration and the AANES.

Two customs systems, one economy Experts note that customs duties are a key pillar of any national economy. Notably, in Syria, however, there is a wide gap in customs policies between the AANES and the Syrian transitional government. Updated data from the General Customs Coordinator of the Syrian government (dated Sep. 1, 2025) shows duties imposed on 15 key goods, including medicines, food items such as sugar, tea, vegetables, and infant formula, as well as construction materials such as iron, cement, and PVC. Indeed, the data reveals significant differences between the duties imposed by the Syrian government and those applied by the AANES at the Semalka border crossing, its only external trade route connecting with the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

For example, in the pharmaceutical sector, the transitional government imposes duties of $5,013 per ton on human vaccines, $500 per ton on insulin-based medicines for diabetes, $3,007 on corticosteroids, and $500 on antibiotics and vitamins. Notably, these figures directly impact local market prices, reducing consumer purchasing power and slowing trade activity. AANES customs policies In contrast, the AANES follows a different customs approach. On Dec. 18, 2024, it issued Circular No.

Furthermore, 32, abolishing customs duties on goods moving between its territories and other parts of Syria, citing the decision as an effort to promote “national unity” and adapt to changing conditions. Currently, the AANES operates only one external border, Semalka, while its crossings with government-held areas serve solely as monitoring points, as per the AANES Public Finance Board. Data…