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Washington Moves to Amend the "Caesar Act" Instead of Repealing It
Discussions have taken place within the U.S. House of Representatives over a new draft bill seeking to introduce substantial amendments to the Caesar Act, which has imposed strict sanctions on Syria since 2019. The House Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, and Judiciary Committees are reviewing the bill, which aims not to repeal the law but to revise its implementation mechanisms and set clear conditions for the potential lifting of sanctions in the future.
The bill was introduced by Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. It seeks to review banking restrictions, enhance the U.S.'s anti-money laundering capabilities, and impose stringent human rights conditions as prerequisites for any eventual repeal of the Caesar Act.
The proposal extends the current sanctions waiver period from 180 days to two years. It stipulates that the Caesar Act may be fully repealed if, over two consecutive years, the U.S. administration can prove that the Syrian government has met the specified conditions—or by no later than the end of 2029. The legislation also includes a provision requiring the U.S. administration to provide regular briefings to Congress on any regulatory exceptions or facilitations granted to the Central Bank of Syria.
Warning Against the Consequences of Keeping the Caesar Act Intact
Some Republican lawmakers, however, have expressed opposition to maintaining the Caesar Act in its current form. Congressman Joe Wilson warned that keeping the sanctions in place for extended periods could obstruct reconstruction efforts in Syria, potentially creating a vacuum that could be exploited by terrorist groups such as ISIS.
Wilson stated on the platform "X" (formerly Twitter):
"I appreciate my colleagues' efforts on the Financial Services Committee to streamline the sanctions. I believe repealing the Caesar Act aligns with President Trump's vision to give Syria a new opportunity."
On June 12, Wilson announced that he had introduced a separate bill calling for the full repeal of the Caesar Act.
Background on the Recent Executive Order
At the end of June, former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at freezing some of the sanctions imposed on Syria to support reconstruction efforts and to help build a country "that is not a haven for terrorist organizations," as he put it.
Although the executive order did not repeal the Caesar Act itself, it legally paved the way for temporarily freezing several of its provisions. It also directed the U.S. State Department to assess Syria’s compliance with the necessary conditions for suspending sanctions, which include:
Halting indiscriminate bombing of civilians
Releasing political detainees
Ensuring humanitarian aid access
Participating in a serious political transition process
The future of the Caesar Act remains uncertain amid ongoing debates in Congress—between those advocating for loosening restrictions to facilitate reconstruction and those insisting on sustained pressure on the Syrian regime to push for political change and respect for human rights.
