The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has called for the full and permanent repeal of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, arguing that the law is no longer serving its intended purpose following the fall of the Assad regime and the rise of a new Syrian government.
In a letter sent Tuesday to key U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Representatives Brian Mast and Gregory Meeks of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, John Murphy, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, expressed support for a bipartisan effort to end the law.
“On behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, I write in support of the bipartisan effort to fully and permanently repeal the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (Caesar Act),” the letter read. Murphy added that with the collapse of the Assad regime and the emergence of a transitional government, the Caesar Act no longer aligns with U.S. strategic interests.
While the Caesar Act was originally designed to hold the Assad regime accountable for its human rights abuses, the Chamber argues that other sanctioning mechanisms are now available to achieve the same objective.
The letter also stressed the negative impact the Caesar Act continues to have on American businesses, restricting their ability to invest and engage in trade with Syria. Despite some waivers and executive actions from the Trump administration, the six-month renewal cycle and the risk of “snapback” sanctions create an environment of uncertainty that discourages long-term investment and planning.
American companies, the letter argued, need clarity and predictability to compete effectively in global markets. With the ongoing ambiguity surrounding the Caesar Act’s future, U.S. firms are at a competitive disadvantage, allowing foreign competitors to take the lead in shaping Syria’s economic future.
Murphy concluded by urging Congress to act swiftly and completely repeal the law. “Repealing the Caesar Act will not only advance U.S. economic interests but also contribute to regional stability and the long-term prosperity of the Syrian people,” he said.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate voted to include a repeal of the Caesar Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
