Syria and EU Hold Talks on Expanding Exports and Activating the REX System

Damascus Meeting Between Syrian and European Officials

Syria's Authority for Supporting and Developing Local Production and Exports held a meeting on Friday with the European Union delegation in Damascus, focusing on prospects for trade cooperation and measures to facilitate Syrian products' entry into European markets. The Ministry of Economy and Industry confirmed that the meeting brought together the authority's chairman, Khaled Al-Khudr, and the head of the EU delegation team, Libor Hlad, alongside representatives of the national committee for the Registered Exporter system.

The Authority's Strategic Vision for 2026-2030

Participants reviewed the authority's strategic vision for the period spanning 2026 to 2030, with discussions highlighting the principal challenges facing the development of Syrian exports and limiting their competitiveness in international markets.

The REX System and Streamlining Export Procedures

The Syrian side placed considerable emphasis on activating the Registered Exporter (REX) system, the mechanism adopted by the European Union to certify the preferential origin of exported goods. The system operates on a self-certification basis, relieving exporters of the need to obtain certificates of origin from customs authorities for each individual shipment, thereby simplifying procedures and reducing operational costs.

Leveraging GSP Tariff Preferences

Activating the REX system forms part of a broader effort to take full advantage of the tariff exemptions available under the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), which grants preferential market access to developing countries. Through this framework, the authority aims to strengthen the competitiveness of Syrian products in European markets and expand the base of exporters benefiting from these trade facilitation mechanisms.