Obama opens trade with Burma as Suu Kyi visits

The White House announced today it will offer trade benefits to Burma, further easing sanctions as the country transitions from military rule to democracy. Today in Washington, Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Barack Obama are meeting for the first time since Suu Kyi’s party took control of the government in last year’s election. Burma, also known as Myanmar, is one of the world’s poorest countries and is eligible for preferential trade treatment. President George H.W. Bush suspended that treatment in 1989 because the country refused to recognize worker’s rights. The United States has slowly re-established economic relations with Burma as it has become more democratic.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.