Secretary Clinton Says U.S. Could Ease or Eliminate Burma Sanctions if Reforms Takes Hold
During her recent trip to Burma (Myanmar), Secretary of State Clinton told reporters that while Burma has made progress, the U.S. is not yet at the point that it can consider lifting its sanctions. According to Secretary Clinton, any steps the Burmese government takes will be carefully considered and matched, because the U.S. wants to see political and economic reform take hold. Secretary Clinton noted that the U.S. will consider the easing and elimination of sanctions going forward and is going to pursue many different avenues to demonstrate continuing support for Burma’s reform.
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U.S. Sanctions Against Burma Were Recently Renewed for an Additional Year
As enacted in 2003, the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 required the President to ban the importation of any article that is the product of Burma until he makes certain determinations and certifications. In 2008, the Act was amended to (i) specifically prohibit imports of jadeite and rubies, mined or extracted from Burma (Myanmar), and jewelry containing these gems; and (ii) impose conditions for importing jadeite and rubies, mined or extracted from a country other than Burma, and jewelry containing these gems; until the President makes certain determinations and certifications. Such sanctions were renewed for an additional year, effective July 26, 2011.
Secretary Clinton's remarks to press available here
Treasury Department details on Burma sanctions are available here.