Jordan’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply approved a new package of measures on Wednesday, April 1, regulating the entry of Syrian-origin imports into the kingdom. The measures lift previous bans in exchange for imposing protective tariffs on a list of goods, in a move the Damascus Chamber of Commerce described as “positive,” while saying the imposed tariffs are “very high.”
Restrictions lifted, protective tariffs imposed
Jordan’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply issued Decision No. 34 of 2026, based on a letter from the Prime Ministry and recommendations from the Economic Modernization and Development Committee, according to Jordanian outlet Roya News.
The decision cancels several previous measures that had restricted the import of Syrian goods, issued in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2025.
In return for lifting those restrictions, the decision imposed protective customs tariffs on a specific list of Syrian-origin imports, targeting in particular the food industries and textiles sectors, with the stated aim of protecting Jordanian national production and maintaining balance in the local market.
A positive step, but tariffs remain high
The Damascus Chamber of Commerce described the Jordanian decision as a “positive step” toward strengthening bilateral economic relations and reviving Syrian exports, especially as it allows the entry of products that had previously been banned or restricted.
In a statement published on Wednesday, April 1, on its official platforms, the chamber said it had repeatedly called for reopening the Jordanian market to Syrian products through meetings with the Jordanian ambassador in Damascus and the head of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce Federation, in addition to raising the issue directly with Jordan’s industry minister during the economic forum held in the kingdom.
However, the chamber said at the end of its statement that the protective tariffs imposed by the Jordanian side are “very high,” adding that it will continue to follow up on the issue through official channels and through its relations with the Jordanian side.
It also called on traders and exporters to review the details of the decision carefully and coordinate with the relevant authorities “to achieve the best possible benefit,” according to the chamber.
Trade exchange between the two countries rises
The announcement comes at a time when trade volume between Syria and Jordan is seeing an unprecedented jump. According to data from Jordan’s Department of Statistics, cited by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Jordanian exports to Syria rose to $217.5 million, compared with $45 million in the same period last year.
Jordanian imports from Syria also rose to about $90 million, compared with $52.5 million, marking a growth rate of 71.4%.
As a result, total trade exchange between the two countries reached $330 million, compared with $97.5 million during the corresponding period last year.
Jordanian exports to Syria included construction materials and products such as cement, iron, marble, tiles, paints, pipes, and electrical equipment, in addition to food, agricultural, and chemical products.
Jordanian trucks entering Syria
The Syrian-Jordanian border has seen changes in transport procedures. On February 7, Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Ports and Customs decided not to allow non-Syrian trucks to enter Syrian territory, requiring them instead to use a cargo transfer system inside the customs yard.
The decision drew broad objections in Jordan. Dhaifallah Abu Aqoula, head of the Jordanian Owners of Clearance and Goods Transport Companies Syndicate, told Jordan’s Al-Mamlaka TV that the added cost per truck ranges between $500 and $800, in addition to losses caused by delays and truck disruptions.
The Damascus Chamber of Commerce had also warned in an earlier statement of the risks of repeated loading and unloading operations, including damage to goods, insurance burdens, and rising operating costs.
In a later step, Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Ports and Customs and Jordan’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply agreed on a conditional reciprocal crossing mechanism. Under the arrangement, Syrian trucks carrying only Syrian-origin goods are allowed to enter Jordanian territory, and Jordanian trucks carrying only Jordanian-origin goods are allowed to enter Syria, without cargo transfer at the border.
The authority said the agreement aims to “facilitate the movement of goods and speed up their delivery to markets.”
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