美国商界要求美国政府解除对缅制裁

志愿

    按：博主判断年内美国将会大大解除对缅甸的经济制裁，但仍会保留某些制裁内容，以收胡萝卜大棒并用之效。自2009年以来，美国对于缅甸应用的主要是行为主义心理学原则，用正强化和负强化构建一个外部环境，将缅甸塑造成为自己所需要的形态。中国外交的特点是不学无术，如同生活在社会底层的贩夫走卒，遇强则摇尾乞怜逢弱则傲慢凶暴，并相信钱可以收买一切，粗鄙卑劣，丝毫没有学术气味。

    伊江新闻3月4日报道，2月18日美国缅甸商会、美国全国外贸商会、美国-东盟商会、美国商会和美国国际商会致函美国国务院，要求美国政府解除制裁以改善缅美两国关系。

    信函支持奥巴马至今与缅甸的交往，包括解除进口禁令、解除金融与投资禁令、美国国际开发总署开设办事处及扩大对海外私人投资企业和进出口银行的支持。

    这封信还提及11月大选的积极成果——昂山素季的全民盟赢得大部分议席——要求推进正常化进程。

    目前美国解除了对某些领域和某些人的经济制裁，但许多商人仍然被列入美国财政部的指定制裁名单（SND），美国国民被禁止同名单上的人做生意。

US Business Community Asks Obama Administration to Ease Burma Sanctions

By KYAW HSU MON / THE IRRAWADDY| Friday, March 4, 2016 |

    RANGOON — Five American trade groups called for the US government to ease sanctions on Burma last month, a move which has been met with praise by the Burmese business community.
    On February 18, the American Chamber of Commerce Myanmar, National Foreign Trade Council, US-ASEAN Business Council, United States Chambers of Commerce, and United States Council of International Business sent a letter to various US State Departments asking the government to relax sanctions in an effort to improve the relationship between Burma and the US.

    In the letter, members of the US business community supported Obama’s engagement in Burma thus far, including lifting import bans, easing finance and investment bans, opening a USAID office, and extending both OPIC (Overseas Private Investment Corporation) and Export-Import Bank support.

    The letter also pointed to the positive election results in November—in which Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won a vast majority of parliamentary seats—and called for an advancement of the normalization process.

    In mid February, Burma’s vice president Nyan Tun also asked the Obama administration to lift the US   sanctions on Burma at a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders in California. Nyan Tun said that although the US had given economic support to other ASEAN countries, Burma had received little developmental assistance because of the sanctions.

    American sanctions on Burma were initiated in 1997 when the country was under military rule. It was not until 2012 that the United States restored diplomatic ties with Burma, one year after Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian government came to power.

    While economic sanctions have since been eased for some sectors and individuals, many businesspeople remain on the Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list of people with whom US citizens are barred from doing business. In May, the SDN list is expected to be renewed.

    Dr. Maung Maung Lay, vice chairman of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce Industry (UMFCCI) said he feels that the SDN list hinders investment in the country.

   “Financial transactions between the US and Myanmar are difficult,” he said. “Many US businessmen want to invest here. US banks don’t want to incur the risks.”

    US investment in Burma remains relatively low, but some major American brands such as Coca-Cola, Gap and KFC have already broken ground in the country.

    Khin Shwe, former upper house lawmaker and chairman of Zaykabar Group of Companies told the Irrawaddy that he is positive that US sanctions will be lifted this year after the new NLD government assumes power in April.

    Since last year, the UMFCCI has been urging the US government to re-examine the sanctions list and remove some companies and individuals. This, the body argues, would create a level playing field in Burma for US companies with otherwise limited business power.