The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) applauded both chambers of the US Congress for quickly renewing the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003.' In action taken July 21 by the House of Representatives (H.J. Res. 56) and July 23 by the Senate (S.J. Res. 17), the US ban on imports from Burma (otherwise known as Myanmar) has been renewed for three years.' The legislation will now be transmitted to the White House for signature by President Barack Obama.

'The US apparel and footwear industry strongly stands behind the commitment the United States made in support of human rights,' said AAFA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke.' 'These sanctions are justified by the countless atrocities committed against the Burmese people everyday.' I urge President Obama to sign this legislation immediately before the current ban expires to send a clear message that the United States does not do business with tyrannical dictators and regimes.

'Eliminating oppression from the world market must be a multilateral effort,' Burke said. 'The global community must join together and implement global sanctions to demonstrate that oppression will not be tolerated in the global marketplace.' (AAFA)