U.S. Sanctions on Burma Renewed for Additional Year
President Obama today issued a notice (see below) renewing sanctions on Burma (Myanmar) for an additional year. The language contained in this year's renewal is nearly identical to that used in previous notices renewing sanctions on Burma.
Due to U.S. concerns over certain actions of the Government of Burma, the U.S. has imposed a wide range of sanctions on Burma, including an import ban on products from Burma, a prohibition on certain new investment activities in Burma, a freeze on the assets of certain entities and individuals in Burma, and restrictions on funds transfers between the U.S. and Burma. In addition, under the Export Administration Regulations, an export license is required to for most exports, reexports, and transfers of items subject to the EAR to persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the various Executive Orders involving Burma.
On May 20, 1997, the President issued Executive Order 13047, certifying to the Congress under section 570(b) of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-208), that the Government of Burma had committed large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Burma after September 30, 1996, thereby invoking the prohibition on new investment in Burma by United States persons contained in that section. The President also declared a national emergency to deal with the threat posed to the national security and foreign policy of the United States by the actions and policies of the Government of Burma, invoking the authority, inter alia, of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701-1706.
Because the actions and policies of the Government of Burma continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, the national emergency declared on May 20, 1997, and the measures adopted to deal with that emergency in Executive Orders 13047 of May 20, 1997, 13310 of July 28, 2003, 13348 of October 18, 2007, and 13464 of April 30, 2008, must continue in effect beyond May 20, 2011.
Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to Burma. This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
Labels: Burma/Myanmar, Sanctions
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