Cablegate: Canada Encouraging Countries to Ban Burmese Imports

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DE RUEHOT #0106 0222108
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P 222108Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7171
INFO RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0451

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DEPT FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD PHUM BM CA
SUBJECT: CANADA ENCOURAGING COUNTRIES TO BAN BURMESE IMPORTS

REF: STATE 5276

1. (SBU) Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade (DFAIT) Deputy Director for the Southeast Asia and
Pacific Division Evelyne Coulombe told PolOff that Canada is
taking every opportunity to encourage other governments to
impose import bans on Burma. Coulombe said that the DFAIT
Southeast Asia and Pacific Division director consistently
emphasizes the need to exert greater pressure on Burma during
meetings with foreign government officials, and noted that
Canada is continuing to pressure ASEAN to take a tougher
stance on Burma.

2. (U) Canada imposed its own set of economic sanctions
against Burma in December 2007. The measures, subject to
certain exceptions, include:

-- A ban on all goods (except humanitarian goods) exported
from Canada to Burma
-- A ban on all goods imported from Burma into Canada
-- A freeze on assets in Canada of any designated Burmese
nationals connected with the Burmese state
-- A prohibition on the provision of Canadian financial
services to and from Burma
-- A prohibition on the export of any technical data to Burma
-- A ban on new investment in Burma by Canadian persons and
companies
-- A prohibition on Canadian registered ships or aircraft
from docking or landing in Burma
-- A prohibition on Burmese registered ships or aircraft from
docking or landing in Canada and passing through Canada

Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada

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