The EU will consider bringing the country back under the preferential trade regime that grants duty-free and quota-free access to the European market for all products except arms.
Burmese teak is widely regarded as the world’s best teak due to the size of the trees from natural forests, rather than plantations.
The country was suspended from the preferential trade scheme in 1997 for systematic violations of international conventions on forced labour.
In June the International Labour Organisation (ILO) concluded significant progress had been achieved, although some residual problems persisted.
“Since Myanmar/Burma started to open up earlier this year I saw the need to underpin such deep and important changes with real economic support once key improvements for the workforce had been met,” said EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht.
“That said, we will continue to engage with Myanmar/Burma to encourage continued progress on all fronts.” Earlier this year the EU decided to suspend trade sanctions on Burma for one year (ttjonline April 28, 2012).
