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U.S. Trade and Economic Sanctions against Syria

Posted November. 12, 2003 22:54,   

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In what appears to be a retaliatory move, the U.S has recently imposed strong economic sanctions on the leading Islamic country Syria.

Syria has continued in its support of guerillas from Palestine and Lebanon in spite of requests from the U.S. to stop. Although the country has already experienced economic sanctions from the U.S. for the past 25 years, it is expected that the newly announced sanctions will be much stronger due to current U.S conflicts with Islamic countries surrounding the Iraq War.

On November 11, the U.S Senate approved by 89 to 4 a bill declaring Syria’s responsibility in terrorist activities and the sovereignty of the nation of Lebanon. This bill was passed through the House by a 398 to 4 margin in October. It will come into effect if the corrected clauses from the Senate are confirmed by the House and signed by President George W. Bush.

The bill called on Syria to halt its support of terrorist activities, to end its 13 year military occupation of Lebanon, to stop securing and producing weapons of mass destruction and long-range ballistic missiles, and to prohibit terrorists and weapons from entering Iraq, conditions which Syria will undoubtedly not accept easily.

If Syria refuses, the U.S president may take further measures, including a ban on the sale of items that have dual civilian and military use, a ban on exports to Syria and on Syrian companies working in U.S, a restriction in the activities of Syria diplomats, a ban on the take-off and landing of Syrian aircrafts on U.S. territory, and a freeze on Syrian assets.

The Senate further increased the discretionary power of the president, allowing him to retract the sanction measures in the draft bill passed through the House.

The Bush administration has accused Syria not only of supporting armed organizations such as Hezbollah and Islam Jihad, but also for providing passage for foreign warriors sneaking into Iraq and attacking the U.S Army.

However, a Washington Post analysis suggested that the effects of the sanction would be more political than economic since trade between U.S. and Syria amounts to only $300 million a year. The Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star predicted that after 25 years of pre-existing sanctions, the new sanctions would have little effect. Syrian diplomats insisted that these measures would instead damage U.S. aims in the Middle East. The Daily Star anticipated that “Syria would reinforce its economic relations with the European Union instead of the U.S.” and “the measures would increase the power of the hard liners in Syria.”

In the meantime, during an event sponsored by the Heritage Foundation at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington D.C. on November 11, President Bush commented that “the U.S. will fulfill its responsibilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Regarding the two countries, he stated that “their democracy will succeed in becoming great cornerstones in history of world freedom.”

He added, “If they fail to succeed in achieving democracy, it will make terrorists think that the U.S. has surrendered,” resulting in “continued attacks against the U.S.”



Jin Lee leej@donga.com