BIS Adds Myanmar Telecom, Mining Companies to Entity List

The Bureau of Industry and Security will add four Myanmar entities to the Entity List July 6 for their support of the country’s Ministry of Defense, including through funding and the provision of telecommunications services, the agency said in a notice. BIS will also correct the address for an existing Myanmar entity on the list. The companies “pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved” in activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, BIS said, adding that the license restrictions will support U.S. efforts to return democracy to Myanmar.

For each of the new entities, BIS will impose a license requirement for all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations, and no license exceptions will be available. The entities will be subject to a license review policy of presumption of denial.

BIS targeted three companies for their copper mining operations and for links to labor and human rights violations: Wanbao Mining, Myanmar Wanbao Mining Copper and Myanmar Yang Tse Copper. The new restrictions will ensure items subject to the EAR are “not available for copper mining operations by these three entities,” which all have revenue-sharing agreements with Myanmar Economic Holdings, a company that provides funding for Myanmar’s defense ministry. BIS also added the telecommunications company King Royal Technologies to the Entity List for providing satellite communication services for the Myanmar military.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo urged "like-minded allies" to also "impose costs" on the four entities. "The U.S. government will continue to promote accountability for the perpetrators of the coup and stand with the people of Burma and their democratic institutions," she said in a statement.

All exports and reexports that now require a license as a result of the Entity List additions and that were aboard a carrier to a port as of July 6 may proceed to their destinations under the previous eligibility, BIS said.

The agency also corrected the existing entry for Myanmar Economic Corp. by changing the address to refer to Myanmar.