Committee Takes Shape
Lebanon and Syria are preparing to review more than 40 bilateral economic agreements inherited from the government that fell in 2024, in an effort to rebuild commercial ties between the two neighbors. A joint committee formed in early July 2026 will examine the accords, which span investment rules, visa arrangements, taxation and other areas of trade.
The review is expected to begin in the coming months. Officials describe it as a first step toward replacing a framework that no longer reflects the economic relationship the two countries now seek.
Trade Well Below Potential
Bilateral trade reached about $250 million in 2025, down from a previous peak that had stayed below $800 million. Given the geographic and logistical links between the two economies, officials argue the figure should be measured in billions rather than hundreds of millions of dollars.
The gap illustrates how far commercial activity has fallen and how much room exists for recovery if barriers are removed.
Customs and Transit Routes
The two countries share a 375-kilometer border, and each depends on the other for access to wider markets. Lebanon relies on Syrian roads to move exports toward Jordan and the Gulf, while Syrian exporters have long used Lebanon as a primary corridor to reach outside markets.
One imbalance singled out for review is customs treatment: Lebanese goods entering Syria face fees, while Syrian goods entering Lebanon are not charged an equivalent duty. Correcting such asymmetries is among the committee's stated priorities.
Path to Renewed Ties
The agreements under review date to a period before the change of government, and officials say many no longer serve either side. Updating them is presented as part of a broader normalization of economic relations following the transition.
No timetable has been set for concluding the review, and the committee's recommendations will determine which agreements are amended, replaced or discarded.