BURMA LOSES EU PRIVILEGES

[brian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Burma loses EU privileges
Brussels, Dec. 18: The Europeans Commission called on 
Wednesday for Burma to be stripped of trade privileges 
currently accorded by the European Union after finding 
evidence of the widespread use of forced labor there.
The EU executive arm unanimously approved a recommendation
that Burma's membership of the generalized System of Preferences,
which accords developing countries preferential tariffs on their exports
to the EU, be suspended indefinitely. The decision has to be ratified 
by EU foreign ministers. This is seen as a formality in light to the 
Burmese regime's refusal to improve its record on human and 
democratic rights.(AFP)