Article 18
1. Member States shall exercise restraint in entering into new short and medium-term commitments for public and private provided financial support for trade with Syria, including the granting of export credits, guarantees or insurance, to their nationals or entities involved in such trade, with a view to reducing their outstanding amounts, in particular to avoid any financial support contributing to the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria. In addition, Member States shall not enter into new long-term commitments for public and private provided financial support for trade with Syria. 2. Paragraph 1 shall not affect commitments established prior to 1 December 2011. 3. Paragraph 1 shall not concern trade for food, agricultural, medical or other humanitarian purposes.