What does Saudi ban on Syrian produce mean for Assad’s government?
The kingdom's decision to ban the import of produce from the government-held areas is viewed as a sign that the kingdom has not changed its position toward the Syrian government.
IDLIB, Syria — Speaking to the local Al-Watan newspaper July 6, Fayez Qassuma, vice president of the Export Committee in the Damascus Chamber of Commerce, said that Saudi Arabia banned the entry of fruit and vegetable trucks coming from Syria, because the boxes lacked a label identifying the type, weights and harvesting date of the goods. The Saudi ban came in light of the recent amendments of Saudi import rules.
Qassuma noted that the Chamber of Commerce addressed the chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers in a letter in this regard, so as to resolve the problem and facilitate the entry of Syrian trucks in order to save their owners heavy losses.
Trucks have been waiting for more than 15 days on the Jordanian side of the Nassib border crossing to be permitted to enter into Saudi Arabia.
Truck drivers have been waiting in very hot weather, and they lack enough fuel to cool the produce in the refrigerators for an extended period, putting the crops at risk.
