US President George W. Bush has signed legislation that provides for economic and diplomatic sanctions on Syria but also gives him the ability to waive penalties.
Bush signed the legislation in private yesterday and gave no indication of whether he intended to waive the sanctions. The White House had opposed the measure until Congress gave him broad waiver authority.
A US official said no decision had been made on waiving sanctions and the administration was still reviewing the issue.
Congress passed the legislation last month after the administration dropped its objections and accused Syria of ignoring U.S. requests to crack down on Palestinian and Lebanese guerrilla groups.
Several legislators have said they would take a dim view if Bush used his waiver authority, in view of the wide margins by which the legislation passed.
A Bush statement said the law aimed to "strengthen the ability of the United States to conduct an effective foreign policy," but he did not regard its policy statements as binding and would reserve the president's constitutional authority to conduct foreign policy.
The bill bars trade in items that could be used in weapons programs until the administration certifies that Syria is not supporting terrorist groups, has withdrawn personnel from Lebanon, is not developing unconventional weapons and has secured its border with Iraq.
It would also oblige Bush to impose at least two other sanctions from a menu that includes barring U.S. businesses from investing in Syria, restricting travel in the United States by Syrian diplomats, and banning exports of U.S. products other than food and medicine to Syria.
With trade between the two countries a modest $300 million or less annually, the sanctions would have more political than economic effects.
Imad Moustapha, the Syrian charge d'affaires in Washington, said last month the bill was "really bad -- bad for Syria, bad for the peace in the Middle East and ... bad for American-Syrian relations and American-Arab relations in general."