The Hill News

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says it is time to relax sanctions on Burma, and the business community is cheering. They promise that U.S. business engagement will bring rule of law and human rights to Burma.

Not so fast. We’ve heard these arguments before, and from the same business actors. Let’s not forget U.S. sanctions led to political reform in Burma. Now that reform has begun, it is important not to relax our leverage too soon, lest we squander the precious and hard-fought gains for Burma’s human rights and democracy activists.

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