On October 30, 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published in the Federal Register a final rule [CBP Dec. 17-15] that amends the CBP regulations to remove the provision relating to the prohibition on the importation of jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma, and articles of jewelry containing jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma. This reflects the termination of all Burmese sanctions by Executive Order 13742, of October 7, 2016.
The President found that the situation that gave rise to the declaration of a national emergency with respect to the actions and policies of the Government of Burma has been significantly altered by Burma’s substantial advances in promoting democracy, including historic elections that resulted in the formation of a democratically elected, civilian-led government; the release of many political prisoners; and greater enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and freedom of association and peaceful assembly. As a result, President Obama revoked all the Burmese sanctions. This was accomplished by revoking, among others, E.O. 13651, which prohibited the importation of any jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma as well as any articles of jewelry containing jadeite or rubies mined or extracted from Burma. As of October 7, 2016, CBP is no longer enforcing this import prohibition. To reflect this, CBP is removing the relevant provision, 19 C.F.R. 12.151, from the CBP regulations.
