Syrian Export Authority Moves Toward Adopting the EU’s Registered Exporter (REX) System
Syria’s General Authority for the Support and Development of Local Production and Exports is moving toward adopting the European Union’s Registered Exporter (REX) System, which would allow Syrian companies to self-certify the preferential origin of their goods for exports to the EU market of approximately 450 million consumers. The initiative aims to increase Syrian exports by 50–60% by 2030.
A New Gateway for Exports
The Authority is preparing to implement the REX system, an EU-recognized framework that enables registered exporters to issue their own statements of preferential origin. Its implementation, however, depends on completing the necessary legal and technical procedures, particularly the adoption of legislation governing rules of origin.
The initiative follows a consultative meeting between the Authority and the European Union Delegation in Damascus to identify the requirements for implementation. According to the Authority’s Director General, the system would eliminate the need for customs authorities to issue a separate certificate of origin for every shipment.
How Self-Certification Works
Under the REX system, registered exporters include a statement of origin directly on their commercial invoices instead of obtaining a certificate of origin for each individual consignment. The system is already used by countries benefiting from preferential trade arrangements with the European Union and is designed to reduce paperwork and speed up customs clearance at European ports.
Target Sectors and Objectives
The Authority is focusing on key export sectors, including agriculture and food processing—such as canned foods, olive oil, nuts, and Aleppo pistachios—as well as textiles, ready-made garments, handicrafts, and the chemical industry, which accounts for 47% of Syria’s industrial exports. The initiative is intended to benefit around 300,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Authority has set a target of increasing exports by 50–60% by 2030, leveraging access to the European market of approximately 450 million consumers. Priority export destinations include Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Spain.
Rebuilding Lost Trade
The initiative comes amid a sharp decline in Syrian trade. Textile exports totaled approximately US$95 million in 2011, while overall exports had fallen by 74% in 2025 compared with 2011. Restoring preferential access to European markets is viewed as a key pathway to rebuilding these trade flows.
Next Steps
No official launch date has been announced, as implementation remains contingent on completing the legal framework and adopting rules of origin legislation. Once approved, the new framework is expected to provide Syrian producers with a more cost-effective and efficient route to the European market than the current shipment-by-shipment certification process.
No comment