US eases Burma trade ban

On the eve of President Obama's trip to Southeast Asia, the United States announced Friday that it is relaxing its ban on most imports from Burma.

Obama will become the first U.S. president to visit Burma, also known as Myanmar, this weekend. The country is emerging from decades of military rule and the trip is seen as a way to encourage its democratization.

The State Department will now issue a general license to import goods from Burma, waiving a ban required by the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003.

Jade and rubies — Burma's most famous products — are still subject to the ban, however, due to ongoing concerns about how they are obtained.

The U.S. praised Burma for recent changes.

"President Thein Sein’s government has released hundreds of political prisoners, removed pre-publication censorship requirements for the press, and enacted a labor law that permits the formation of labor unions," it said, calling April 2012 elections mostly free. 

The U.S. is, however, maintaining a list of firms and Burmese citizens that cannot do business with U.S. citizens or entities. 

"Despite positive changes, the United States remains concerned about corruption, remaining political prisoners, continued military ties to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and ethnic conflict," the State Department said. 

---