The Syrian Future Movement welcomes the objective and purpose of the decision issued by the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports in Syria yesterday, Saturday, 2025/01/11, through the Unified Customs Tariff Bulletin, which applies to all customs offices at land and sea ports and airports.
The Syrian Future Movement views positively the previous meetings of the caretaker government, represented by the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade, with Syrian industrialists who expressed their concerns about competition from foreign goods, especially Turkish products.
The Syrian Future Movement condemns the manner in which the decision was implemented, making it sudden and ill-considered, which paralyzed economic activity, especially in northern Syria, and led to significant losses for Syrian traders.
The Syrian Future Movement considers the protection of Syrian industry a deliberate priority in itself, but not at the expense of the impoverished Syrian citizen.
The Syrian Future Movement does not see it as the responsibility of the current government to make major economic decisions but rather to maintain the current situation while strengthening economic security until a legitimate permanent government assumes its duties.
The Syrian Future Movement calls for more consultations with Syrian economic experts to study the implications and outcomes of any decision.
The Syrian Future Movement places great importance on the Syrian citizen and stresses the need to reject any decision that imposes additional burdens on Syrians.
The Syrian Future Movement bitterly observes the bankruptcy of the Syrian treasury due to the looting by the Assad regime over decades, which has led to difficulties in paying employees’ salaries, let alone increasing them. Therefore, we see no benefit in rebuilding the national economy from scratch by relying on customs duties, as we believe that their negative impacts outweigh the positives in our current Syrian situation.
The Syrian Future Movement calls for empowering the infrastructure of agriculture and industry and strengthening factories before increasing the prices of imported products.
The Syrian Future Movement suggests implementing a balanced economic measure, such as imposing high customs duties on luxury goods while exempting raw materials that will help accelerate the recovery of local industries.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that increasing customs duties should be a future step taken after partial economic stabilization and when people are able to secure their daily needs.
The Syrian Future Movement warns of the dangers of increasing costs for local industries due to the import of raw materials and production equipment for the industrial sector, which raises production costs and hinders the recovery of national industries.
The Syrian Future Movement recommends a gradual and objective review of the decision, advocating for a step-by-step increase in customs duties until local industries strengthen and develop their production capacities. It also recommends maintaining zero customs fees on raw materials and equipment needed by local industries.
The Syrian Future Movement suggests initiating temporary emergency projects, such as focusing on investment in infrastructure, like energy and transportation, which supports local industries, encourages investment, and explores ways to create affordable loans for industrialists.
