Contact: Nate Herman
Phone: 703-797-9062
Email: nate@travel-goods.org

TGA Applauds House Vote to Renew Import Ban on Burma
Hopes Senate Follows House/Urges International Community to Follow U.S. Lead

Princeton, NJ - 14 June 2004 - Travel Goods Association (TGA) President Michele Marini Pittenger applauded today’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to renew the complete ban on all U.S. imports from Burma. “Today’s vote delivers a message to the world that the United States will not conduct business with regimes such as the one that brutally enslaves the people of Burma.” Pittenger continued, “On behalf of the U.S. travel goods industry, I would like to thank the House for their courageous vote and express my appreciation to U.S. Representatives Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Peter King (R-NY) as well as House Ways & Means Committee Chair Bill Thomas (R-CA) for their leadership on this important issue. I hope the U.S. Senate and President George W. Bush follow the House's lead by quickly renewing the import ban before it expires at the end of this summer.”

Numerous U.S. government and other reports detail the cruel and authoritarian nature of the military junta, including extensive use of child and slave labor as well as egregious violations of all internationally-recognized labor and human rights standards. Indeed, Burma enjoys the dubious honor of being the only country for which the International Labor Organization (ILO) has recommended sanctions.

In response, President George W. Bush last year signed into law the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003. The key provision of this landmark legislation imposed a total ban on imports from Burma. TGA was one of only two trade associations to support the ban. The import ban, however, will expire unless Congress passes, and Bush signs into law, a one-year renewal by the end of July.

Since this law took effect, the ruling military junta in Burma has made no effort to address Burma’s human rights situation. Instead, as the most recent State Department Human Rights report states, “The Government's extremely poor human rights record worsened [in 2003], and it continued to commit numerous serious abuses.” However, U.S. State Department officials told the House International Relations Committee on March 25 that, "Sanctions are a key component of our policy in bringing democracy to Burma and have been a key source of support for the morale of many democracy activists."

The United States must renew and strengthen its sanctions against this regime now. More importantly, the United States must actively seek similar steps from other countries. According to Pittenger, “TGA encourages the U.S. to redouble its efforts to “multilateralize” this import ban. Burma is the only country that has been sanctioned by the International Labor Organization (ILO) for its abysmal human and labor rights record, drawing a bright line around that country and its continued affront to human rights. The United States must demonstrate its leadership by seeking change in Burma through our country’s example and by actively encouraging others to follow that example.”

The Travel Goods Association is the voice of the U.S. travel goods industry. A national trade association, TGA represents the manufacturers, distributors and retailers of luggage, leather goods, business and travel accessories, business and computer cases, handbags and other products for people who travel.

Copyright © 2004. Travel Goods Association