Beirut - President Donald Trump announced that the United States would simplify sanctions on Syria, which could ultimately promote the country’s recovery from years of civil war and change the daily lives of Syrians.

But experts say it will take time and the process of lifting sanctions, some of which were first proposed 47 years ago, is unclear.

"I think people see sanctions as a conversion you turn on and off," said Syrian economist Karam Shaar. "It's far from it."

Nevertheless, the move could bring much-needed investment to the country, which emerged from decades of authoritarian rule by the Assad family and the war. It takes tens of thousands of dollars to restore its abused infrastructure and remove 90% of its population from poverty.

Trump's vows have had an impact: Syrians celebrate on streets across the country, and Arab leaders in neighboring countries welcomed millions of refugees fleeing the Syrian war to praise the news.

Washington has imposed three sanctions on Syria. In 1979, the country was designated as a “sponsor of terrorism” because its military participated in the civil war in neighboring Lebanon, where it supported armed groups and eventually established strong ties with the powerful radical Hezbollah organization.

In 2003, then-President George W. Bush signed the Syrian Accountability Act because his administration faces face to face with governments and groups supported by Iran and Tehran in the Middle East. The legislation focuses on Syria’s support for designated terrorist groups, its military presence in Lebanon, the development of so-called weapons of mass destruction and oil smuggling and support from armed groups in Iraq following the U.S.-led invasion.

In 2019, during Trump's first term, he signed the Caesar Act, which approved the Syrian army and others against the atrocities committed during the Civil War.

Caesar is the code name of a Syrian photographer who has taken thousands of photos of torture and other ill-treatment victims and smuggled them out. The images, taken between 2011 and 2013, were handed over to human rights advocates, revealing the brutal suppression of political opponents and dissidents during the nationwide protests.

These sanctions, along with similar measures in other countries, touch every part of the Syrian economy and the daily life of the country.

They have resulted in shortages of goods from fuel to medicine and made it difficult for humanitarian agencies to respond to funding and function.

Companies around the world are working to export to Syria, and Syrians are working to import goods of any form, as almost all financial transactions with the country are banned. This has led to a black market for smuggled goods.

Simple tasks such as updating smartphones are difficult, if not impossible, and many people resort to virtual private networks or VPNs that mask online activity to access the Internet, as many websites block users with Syrian IP addresses.

This impact was particularly evident after a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye and northern Syria in February 2023, which exacerbated the devastating and pain that the war had already brought.

Although the Treasury Department has granted a six-month exemption for all financial transactions related to disaster relief, the measures have limited effect because banks and companies are nervous about risk taking, a phenomenon known as overdoing.

Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa led the rebellion to remove President Bashar Assad, who he believes are beyond its purpose and now only harms the Syrian people and ultimately prevents any prospects for recovery in the country.

Trump and al-Sharaa met on Wednesday.

Washington temporarily eased some restrictions in January, but did not lift sanctions. The UK and the EU have taken some measures.

Syria's currency rose 60% on Tuesday night after Trump's announcement, indicating how transformative it is to remove sanctions.

Nonetheless, given the comprehensive measures of these measures, it will take some time to see any tangible impact on the Syrian economy, experts said.

This may mean that banks can return to the international financial system, or that car repair shops can import spare parts from abroad. If economic improvement and reconstruction projects start, many Syrian refugees living in crowded tent camps rely on assistance to survive can decide to return home.

"If the situation is stable and reforms are made, we will see Syrians returning to their country as we expect," said Lebanese economist Mounis Younes.

Shaar said loose sanctions are also symbolic, as it shows that Syria is no longer a pariah.

The move “marks a moment of possibility change for millions of Syrians who have experienced more than 13 years of economic hardship, conflict and displacement,” said Mathieu Rouquette, director of Syria’s country at Mercy Corps.

But it all depends on the development of Washington.

“Unless you strip enough sanctions, you can’t expect the positive impact of Syria to start to appear,” Shaar said. “Even if you remove some of the most important, the economic impact still doesn’t exist.”