On October 7, 2016, President Obama issued an Executive Order terminating several sanctions programs against Burma.

Specifically, the president revoked previous Executive Orders 13047, 13310, 13448, 13464, 13619, and 13651. The president also waived the sanctions in Section 5(b) of the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-283) and set aside the visa ban and entry restrictions imposed on certain persons. The Executive Order terminating the sanctions programs took effect on October 7.

In the Executive Order, President Obama highlights Burma’s “substantial” efforts to promote democracy and the 2015 elections that resulted in the opposition party winning a majority of seats in the national parliament. The Executive Order also highlighted recent releases of political prisoners and a more permissive approach by authorities to freedom of speech, including protests.

The Executive Order follows a lifting of the long-standing trade benefits ban against Burma in September. In particular, products originating in Burma will no longer be suspended from receiving preferential duty treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences when imported into the United States.