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EU proposes scrapping Burma's farm
Subject: EU proposes scrapping Burma's farm trade prefernces.
EU proposes scrapping Burma's farm trade preferences
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February 18, 1997
11.42 a.m. EST (1642 GMT)
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- The European Commission on Tuesday proposed
ending trade preferences for Burma's farm exports following an inquiry into
the use of forced labor by the nation's military regime.
The European Union's executive body has already proposed a similar
suspension of the general system of preferences for Burma's industrial
goods.
In a statement, the commission said it took the measure after Burma
failed to
cooperate with an investigation into allegations that the use of forced
labor is
commonplace in Burma.
Forced labor is incompatible with the granting of a general system of
preferences to a developing nation, the statement said.
The commission proposal must be approved by the 15 EU member states
before it can go into effect.
Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council seized power in
1988 after crushing a pro-democracy uprising. Hundreds of people were
killed, injured or imprisoned in the crackdown.
Leaders of the Burmese military junta are banned from visiting EU nations
under visa restrictions imposed last year to protest a crackdown on the
democratic opposition.
[FOXNews, 18 Feb 1997].
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