US economic sanctions on Myanmar lifted

US economic sanctions on Myanmar are to be lifted following the signing of an executive order by President Barack Obama.

Aung San Suu Kyi leaves peace conference in Myanmar - EPA

Aung San Suu Kyi leaves peace conference in Myanmar. Source: EPA

President Barack Obama is lifting US economic sanctions on the former pariah state of Myanmar.

The White House says Obama signed an executive order lifting the sanctions on Friday.

He had announced plans to do so last month, when Myanmar's new civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi visited the Oval Office.

Obama's move marks the culmination of years of rapprochement between the US and Myanmar that Obama has worked to facilitate. The Southeast Asian nation has pursued political reforms over the last five years following decades of oppressive military rule.

The US has already eased broad economic sanctions on Myanmar, including prohibitions on investment and trade. But the US had retained more targeted restrictions on military-owned companies and officials and associates of the former ruling junta.


Share
Published 8 October 2016 8:24am
Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world