On March 24, Canada amended its sanctions measures imposed on Myanmar by designating an additional 4 individuals and 2 entities. The Canadian Government indicated that these new sanctions are intended to target arms flows, individuals and entities who procure and supply arms and military equipment to Myanmar. These new measures were developed in coordination with the United Kingdom and United States.
On 26 January 2022, the US Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, Labor, Homeland Security and the Office of the US Trade Representative issued a joint advisory that highlights certain supply chain-related risks for companies whose business and supply chains may touch Burma/Myanmar.
The revised draft Cyber Security Law released by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) on 13 January 2022 (“Draft Law 2.0”) sets out certain requirements on a digital platform service provider (DPSP). Failure to comply with the requirements could result in a fine, suspension of the relevant digital platform service (DPS) or revocation of any existing license held by the DPSP. Additionally, the MOTC may act in the public interest and shut down any DPS in Myanmar. These provisions under the Draft Law 2.0, if enacted, may have a material impact on international digital platform operators with a substantial user base in Myanmar.
The revised draft Cyber Security Law released by the Ministry of Transport and Communications on 13 January 2022 appears to impose a broad prohibition on the use of virtual private networks in Myanmar unless specific permission is granted by the MOTC. The Draft Law 2.0 does not distinguish the use of VPN between consumers and businesses; any person found guilty of the offense shall be punishable by imprisonment of a minimum of one year to a maximum of three years or a fine not exceeding MMK 5 million (approximately USD 2,500) or both.
In December 2019, Myanmar’s first Anti-dumping Law (“ADL“) was passed by the Assembly of the Union of Myanmar (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw), marking the introduction of a legal framework for the imposition of anti-dumping measures in Myanmar for the first time. Although Myanmar has been a member of the World Trade Organization (“WTO“) since 1995, Myanmar did not have a national anti-dumping law until the passing of the ADL. The new legislation is expected to enter into force on 1 July 2021.
On 21 June 2021, the UK and EU both announced further sanctions targeting individuals and entities linked to Myanmar’s military regime.
The EU announced that it was imposing sanctions against an additional 8 individuals, 3 economic entities (Myanmar Gems Enterprise; Myanmar Timber Enterprise; and Forest Products Joint Venture Corporation Limited) and the War Veterans Organisation.
On 17 May 2021, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued an additional round of sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 “Blocking Property with Respect to the Situation in Burma.” This client alert discusses some of the legal implications of the latest round of measures and their impact on businesses’ day-to-day operations in the country, including their dealings with ministries or government agencies that are headed by an SDN.
Continuing our series of video chats on the Future of Disputes in Asia Pacific, we take a look at C&I trends and developments across the region. Mini vandePol, head of the Firm’s Asia Pacific Compliance & Investigations Group, and Georgie Farrant, head of Australia’s Dispute Resolution team, talk about global C&I trends that impact clients operating in Asia Pacific such as ESG, economic sanctions, anti-bribery/corruption developments and compliance programs.
In the first episode, Nandakumar Ponniya, chair of the Asia Pacific Dispute Resolution Group, Cynthia Tang, head of the Hong Kong Dispute Resolution team, and Yoshiaki Muto, head of Tokyo’s Dispute Resolution team, discuss developments in commercial litigation around four key areas: (1) technology, (2) mediation, (3) international commercial courts, and (4) class actions in Asia Pacific.
Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry announced that on 9 April 2021, Singapore deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of ASEAN and became the first country to complete the official process for ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement.