As the US moves to lift some restrictions on the Syria's fragile new government, Australia will have to consider whether it wants closer ties with a group it has labelled as terrorists.

According to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia has enforced autonomous sanctions since 2011 in response to the Assad regime’s “deeply disturbing and unacceptable use of violence against its people”.

These sanctions prohibit the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of arms and technology related to energy power plants to Syria and also make it illegal to import certain fuel and oil products, among other trade restrictions.

Several persons are also sanctioned, meaning it is prohibited to directly or indirectly make an asset available to them.