Syria has implemented a new regulation that bans foreign trucks, including those from Jordan, Lebanon, and Gulf countries, from entering its territory. This decision aims to allow only transit trucks but has significant implications for Jordan's export strategies. The announcement comes at a time when Jordan is trying to boost its export activity through land access, making the Syrian ban particularly detrimental.

With the new policy in effect, Jordanian trucks are now required to adhere to a 'back-to-back' procedure. This methodology requires them to unload their cargo at border customs areas, where Syrian trucks must then take the goods deeper into the Syrian market. Industry representatives have expressed concern that this approach has raised shipping costs and slowed delivery times, posing further challenges to businesses that rely on the Syrian market.

According to the Jordanian Freight and Goods Transport Companies Association, the ban has resulted in a severe backlog of Jordanian and Gulf trucks at the Naseeb crossing, highlighting the operational difficulties faced by transport sectors in the region. Industry leaders claim that the entry restrictions are not only economically damaging but could also lead to strained trade relations between Jordan and Syria if the situation continues without resolution.