Update on Canada’s Trade Sanctions Against Burma (and More)
December 2007
On December 14, 2007, Minister Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada’s economic sanctions against Burma entered into force on December 13, 2007.
In short, the Special Economic Measures Act (Burma) Regulations impose sever economic sanctions, including:
- a ban on all goods exported from Canada to Burma, excepting only humanitarian goods;
- a ban on all goods imported from Burma into Canada;
- a freeze on assets in Canada of any designated Burmese nationals connected with the Burmese State;
- a prohibition on the provision of Canadian financial services to and from Burma;
a prohibition on the export of any technical data to Burma;
a ban on new investment in Burma by Canadian persons and companies;
a prohibition on Canadian registered ships or aircraft from docking or landing in Burma; and
a prohibition on Burmese registered ships or aircraft from docking or landing in Canada or passing through Canada.
See the list of the designated Burmese nationals connected with the Burmese States whose assets are to be frozen.
On November 14, 2007, Trade Lawyers Blog reported that “Canada Announces Very Tough Trade Sanctions Against All Things Connected to Burma.” Canada has economic sanctions in place against countries other than Burma - but the Burmese sanctions are some of the most severe. Canada imposes some form of economic sanction against the following countries and non-countries:
- Belarus
- Burma
- Cote d’Ivoire
- North Korea
- the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Iran
- Iraq
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Rwanda
- Sierra Leone
- Sudan
- Terrorists
Source: Trade Lawyers Blog
Press Release: Canada Takes Economic Sanction Against Burma
— Cyndee Todgham Cherniak, Esq
