Senators Demand Ban on Imports from Burma

In the wake of the detainment of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the opposition party in Myanmar, two US senators are proposing a legislation to ban all imports from the country until it improves its record on human rights and democracy. If the bill passes, the US will join business and labor groups that have already united in support of sanctions. Already, many major corporations such as Saks and The Gap have voluntarily halted the import and sale of products from Myanmar while the International Labor Organization is calling on all its members to impose sanctions. Because Myanmar’s exports to the United States are its primary foreign currency source, the US hopes that a ban would weaken the regime and advance the takeover by the democratic opposition. The bill proposing the ban also includes an expansion of the US President’s power to assist the efforts of the opposition party. – YaleGlobal