The political relationship between the United States and Burma is strained. Official relations between the United States and Burma have been cool since the 1988 military coup and violent suppression of pro-democracy demonstrations.

The United States has imposed broad sanctions against Burma. Many of the sanctions in place are applied under several different legislative and policy vehicles. Thus the improvement of the situation in one area in Burma would not necessarily lead to a lifting of any particular sanction. Recent measures include a ban on imports from Burma, a ban on the export of financial services to Burma, a freeze on the assets of certain Burmese financial institutions and extended visa restrictions on Burmese officials. The United States has also imposed countermeasures on Burma due to its non-compliance with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering.

The U.S. Government has an official policy to neither encourage nor discourage trade with Burma. Since May 1997, the U.S. Government has prohibited new investment by U.S. persons or entities. However, a number of U.S. companies exited the Burma market even prior to the imposition of sanctions due to a worsening business climate and mounting criticism from human rights groups, consumers, and some shareholders because of the Burmese Government's serious human rights abuses and lack of progress toward democracy.

For its particularly severe violations of religious freedom, the United States has designated Burma a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act.

The United States downgraded its level of representation in Burma from Ambassador to Chargé d'Affaires after the government's crackdown on the democratic opposition in 1988.

The U.S. Embassy in Burma is located at 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521) mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546, tel: [95] (1) 379880; fax: [95] (1) 256018.