International Trade Law News

President Bush today issued a notice and notified Congress that he is continuing for an additional year the national emergency blocking the property of certain persons and prohibiting the exportation or reexportation of certain goods to Syria.

On May 11, 2004, as a result of the passage of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108 175), the President issued Executive Order 13338 blocking the property of certain persons and prohibiting the exportation or reexportation of most goods to Syria. Under General Order No. 2 issued by BIS, food as well as medicines classified as EAR99 may be exported or reexported to Syria without a license. In addition, medical devices, certain telecommunications equipment and associated computers, software and technology are licenseable to Syria on a case-by-case basis.

In the notice continuing the national emergency (which will be published in the Federal Register on a later date) and in his letter to Congress, the President indicated that he is extending the national emergency because "the actions and policies of the Government of Syria continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States."