Myanmar pro-democracy activists in the U.S. told DVB they welcomed the advancement of three bipartisan bills in the U.S. Congress, describing them as promising steps to increase pressure on the military regime in Naypyidaw and to support the return to democracy.
“Only the BRAVE Burma Act was referred to three committees, Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, and Judiciary, so it must go through more procedural steps. The other two bills were referred to just one committee each, making them eligible for floor votes sooner,” said James Shwe, a member of the Los Angeles Myanmar Movement.
On July 22, three bills passed their respective House committees. They are the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.3190), the Burma Genocide Accountability and Protection Act, or Burma GAP Act (H.R.4140), and the No New Burma Funds Act (H.R.4423).
The legislation seeks to limit the regime’s financial and political reach, enhance support for victims of human rights abuses, and strengthen U.S. policy alignment with Myanmar’s democratic resistance.
The next step is a vote in the House of Representatives, followed by consideration in the Senate. If passed by both chambers, the bills would proceed to the executive, President Donald Trump, for signature into law.
A source close to the regime told DVB on Thursday that Naypyidaw is preparing to send a delegation to Washington to discuss a proposed 40 percent tariff increase on Myanmar exports to the U.S. which will come into effect on Aug. 1.
On July 10, regime leader Min Aung Hlaing issued a formal statement addressed to the U.S. President, requesting a reduction in the tariff and expressing readiness to dispatch a negotiation team as soon as possible. But no official response has come from Washington.
Min Aung Hlaing proposed that the U.S. collect tariffs on Myanmar’s imports at 10 to 20 percent, and that Myanmar would adjust its tariffs on U.S. imports from zero to 10 percent. Naypyidaw also requested the easing and lifting of sanctions imposed by Washington on the regime, which seized power during the coup on Feb. 1, 2021.
The trade volume between Myanmar and the U.S. amounted to around $588.3 million USD in the 2024-25 financial year, according to the regime. Since the 2021 coup, the U.S. suspended its involvement in the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) on March 29, 2021, which was signed with Myanmar in 2013.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued 20 rounds of sanctions, designating a total of 93 individuals and 49 entities, including measures restricting financial services to the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).
Separately, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed six rounds of export restrictions, which included placing 17 entities on the Entity List for their ties to the regime in Naypyidaw.
