Syria has only halfheartedly embraced economic reform and remains hampered by the statist orientation of its economy, with banking, insurance, utilities, and heavy industry all in the public sector. Cumbersome systems of tiered foreign exchange rates, high tariffs and import restrictions all present difficulties for U.S. businesses seeking opportunities in Syria. In addition, Syria's inclusion on the State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism makes it subject to export controls and ineligible for U.S. guaranteed trade financing. Even for approved transactions, extended delays for evaluating technology exports may place U.S. suppliers at a competitive disadvantage. Most efforts at developing national capacity in environmental affairs are donor-funded, as are many of the efforts at environmental remediation.
Opportunities also exist in clean technology for new industries.
However, this institutional structure is still evolving and has not yet become effective at implementing environmental policy or enforcing environmental law. Syria's past pattern has been for the state to control heavy industry, unencumbered by environmental restrictions. This is changing slowly, with donor assistance, both to lessen the pervasive presence of the state in the economy, and to sensitize remaining state industries to the importance of environmental considerations. Air and Industrial Pollution Industrial pollution is a problem cutting across virtually all of Syrian industry. Homs is the most polluted city industrially, with its refinery and several fertilizer factories.