Canada eases Syria sanctions, adds new human rights listings
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Anita Anand, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that Canada is amending its sanctions regime under the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations, lifting broad economic restrictions linked to the former Assad regime while imposing new targeted measures.
The amendments remove sweeping prohibitions in place since May 2011, including restrictions on imports and exports, investment activities and the provision of financial and other services.
Ottawa said the changes also ease measures related to telecommunications monitoring and petroleum-related transactions.
In addition, 24 entities and one individual have been delisted from the Syria Regulations to reduce barriers to economic activity and allow transactions with state-affiliated bodies in sectors deemed critical to Syria’s recovery.
At the same time, Canada introduced two new listing criteria to target individuals and entities responsible for gross and systematic human rights violations, or those undermining Syria’s peace, security and stability.
Under the updated framework, six individuals have been newly sanctioned. Four were listed over their alleged involvement in the March 2025 wave of sectarian violence in Syria, while two were designated for financing the Assad regime’s chemical and ballistic missile programs.
Sanctions remain in place against figures closely associated with the former regime who were listed between 2011 and 2017.
Ottawa said it encourages continued efforts by Syria’s transitional authorities toward an inclusive political process and stressed that it will continue holding perpetrators of abuses accountable.
Canada first imposed sanctions on Syria in 2011 in response to the violent crackdown on anti-government protests at the outset of the Syrian conflict.
Over time, the measures expanded to target senior officials, state institutions and entities linked to repression and arms proliferation.
According to the Canadian government, 32 Syrian entities and 229 individuals remain sanctioned.