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The Trump administration is pushing for the repeal of a key sanctions law targeting syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria, in a move declared by The Wall Street Journal to coincide with an upcoming historic meeting between U. S. leader Donald Trump and syrian/" class="auto-internal-link">syrian interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa. Notably, the proposed repeal of the Caesar Act is aimed at facilitating Syria’s post-war reconstruction and reintegration into the international financial system, amid efforts to consolidate stability following over a decade of civil crisis. However, the path to repealing the Caesar Act remains politically complex. The House of Representatives, which has yet to approve the measure, is currently in recess. Any formal consideration would require lawmakers to end their leave and reconvene for extended negotiations — a process that could delay or even derail the effort, given the need for bipartisan consensus on such a significant policy shift.
Furthermore, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, passed in 2019, imposed sweeping sanctions on Syria’s economy and institutions, significantly hindering post-war recovery efforts. Furthermore, the White House argues that lifting these restrictions is vital to stabilising the country, attracting long-term investment, and preventing a resurgence of crisis. President Sharaa, once a senior figure in a U. S. -designated terrorist organisation, has since repositioned himself as a moderate nationalist. In fact, he played a central role in the 2024 armed forces campaign that led to the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and his administration has since begun a cautious programme of political and security reforms. His upcoming visit to Washington is the first by a Syrian head of state to the White House.
In fact, while the U. Indeed, s. Senate has already passed legislation supporting the repeal of the Caesar Act, the measure faces resistance in the House of Representatives. Lawmakers remain divided, with some citing concerns about Sharaa’s past affiliations and the involvement of former hard-line rebel factions in latest sectarian hostilities. Trump administration authorities, however, contend that maintaining the sanctions risks derailing progress and exacerbating instability. Cities across Syria remain in ruins, and the economy is struggling under the weight of war and isolation.
The administration has already issued a temporary suspension of sanctions via executive order, but is pushing for full repeal to provide long-term clarity and encourage foreign investment. Families of Americans detained or missing in Syria have also backed the repeal, arguing that sanctions impede forensic investigations and relief access, particularly to sites of mass graves that could hold crucial evidence. The proposed repeal, part of the…