Apparel Transaction between US and Burma

Around the time that the Clinton Administration banned new investment on Myanmar, Pentagon was importing about $138,290 in clothing. Some criticized that such transactions are probrelmatic in terms of human rights.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service had traded with Myanmar whille the administration was focsusing on human rights violation in the country in October . Critics outraged, because the transaction would help the junta that was causing human rights violations.

According to a spokes man, the US military branch had $ 7.3 billion in sales last year (1999?) at 1,400 stores. He said ''We're aware of the sanctions against Burma, but they have nothing to do with the sale or purchase of goods or services. What they have to do with are new investments, which we're not involved with.''

It was 1997, an economic sanction was impoed on Myanmar by the Clinton administration, even though trade with Myanmar itseled was not being denied by law at the time.

The transaction was largely increased by American apparel industry that could benefit low-waged labor.

Because,,,

"Myanmar's apparel workers earn just 8 cents an hour, making them among the world's lowest paid manufacturing workers."

Maybe, this information can help you imagine how cheap Burmese wage is, even though uniformed information about it has no been seen.

In the first nin months 2000, US apparel industry imported $308 million in goods from Myanmar, which was almost twice sized transaction if compared with the same period of last year. The branch "had about 10, 000 pounds garments made by the Newest Garment Manufarcturing Company sent from Yangon, formerly Rangoon, to Los Angels, arriving Oct. 19.
"
The president was trying to deny any economic transaction with Myanmar, becasue the junta kept ignoring a result of national election, victory for Democracy.

The critics against the transaction insisted ''The 1997 U.S. sanctions law on new investment in Burma primarily was clearly intended to deprive the Burmese military junta of funds with which to perpetuate human rights abuses and ethnic cleansing campaigns and to pressure the junta into commencing a dialogue with Suu Kyi's political party and ethnic minorities. Unfortunately, the new surge in apparel exports to the U.S. undermines the spirit of that law, allowing the regime to enrich itself and take advantage of unsuspecting American consumers.''

Resorce: "Burmese Sales To the PX Are Provoking Rights Protest" NY times Dec 19, 2000