On March 29, 2021, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the suspension of “all U.S. engagement with Burma under the 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), effective immediately… [and] will remain in effect until the return of a democratically elected government.”  TIFA provides for “ongoing dialogue and cooperation on trade and investment issues” between the governments of the U.S. and other parties to the agreement.

USTR will also consider workers’ rights concerns in the discussions on the potential reauthorization of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program eligibility.

The press release can be found here:

https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2021/march/ustr-suspends-trade-engagement-burma-following-military-coup-and-violence-against-civilians

More information on TIFA can be found here:

https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/trade-investment-framework-agreements