EU proposes scrapping Burma's farm

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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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