On July 7, US President Donald Trump sent letters to 14 countries, including Myanmar, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South
Africa, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Serbia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos, announcing plans to raise import tariffs.
Africa, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Serbia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos, announcing plans to raise import tariffs.
In a letter sent to SG Min Aung Hlaing, addressed as the Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister of Myanmar, Trump acknowledged a trade deficit with Myanmar but affirmed that trade relations would continue. The letter highlighted the US commitment to fair and balanced trade and announced a 40-per-cent tariff
on all exports from Myanmar to the United States. It also noted that Myanmar companies would be permitted to invest in US-based industries and indicated openness to negotiations on trade tariffs.
on all exports from Myanmar to the United States. It also noted that Myanmar companies would be permitted to invest in US-based industries and indicated openness to negotiations on trade tariffs.
The direct consequence of this letter has been the provision of a direct channel for Myanmar leaders to communicate directly to the White House, thereby allowing the them to send a reply to send a delegation to negotiate the tariffs further. It also gives Myanmar a chance to ask Trump to release a couple of billion dollars of Myanmar government funds, that were hold up by the Biden administration due to the takeover of Su Kyi administration because of voters’ fraud. Trump would be able to sympathise with the cheating on the elections, based on his own personal experiences. These actions caused a ruckus among anti government NNCP terrorist groups, as Trump indirectly gives legitimacy to Myanmar government and recognised them as representatives to negotiate on the country’s behalf. The funding of $500m+ a year by the US Aid has been cut off since February of this year and this acknowledgement just added salt to the wound.
Short of funds and lack of recognition forces their fake news mouth pieces from Chiang Mai and Mae Sot (Irrawaddy, Mizzama, Khit Thit, Myanmar Now, DVB, etc) to just phew out a slew of falsehood, lies and personal attacks on many procountry, pro-development people on the social media. Lack of funds also makes them unable to pay bribes to lower level military personal in exchange for secret government and military news. Government also counteracted by enacting a law that increases significant penalties including the death penalty for providing military and other sensitive information.
All in all, this Trump move has second most positive impact for the stability of the country, much needed for the upcoming elections (the most positive being the cancellation of US Aid). While China and India wholeheartedly support the January elections, Trump makes it possible to hold it in a more all-inclusive way by bringing down the anti government forces and indirectly reducing terror activities that would cower people not to participate in the elections. Other than advocating Trump for a possible Nobel Peace Prize, what could we possibly say. Thank you again, Mr Trump, perhaps?
