Myanmar Junta Leader Thanks Trump for Tariff Letter, Praises False Election Claims

Myanmar's military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, praised Donald Trump and thanked him for shutting down US-backed media in Myanmar. Trump sent a letter to Min Aung Hlaing, recognizing the junta's rule and imposing a 40% tariff from August 1. Min Aung Hlaing justified the military's seizure of power, citing electoral fraud and irregularities. He asked Trump to lift economic sanctions and reconsider tariffs, thanking him for inviting Myanmar to participate in the US economy. The move is seen as the first public recognition of the junta's rule by the US.

Yangon — Myanmar's military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, has expressed his appreciation to U.S. President Donald Trump, following a letter from the U.S. president that the junta has interpreted as Washington's first public recognition of its rule. The letter, sent by Trump to Min Aung Hlaing by name, imposed a 40% tariff on Myanmar effective August 1, down from a previously threatened 44%.

Min Aung Hlaing responded with a multi-page letter, released in both Burmese and English, expressing his "sincere appreciation" for Trump's letter and praising the U.S. president's "strong leadership in guiding your country toward national prosperity." He justified the military's seizure of power in 2021, citing "major electoral fraud and significant irregularities" in Myanmar, similar to the challenges faced by the U.S. during the 2020 election [1].

The military leader also thanked Trump for shutting down funding for U.S.-backed media outlets, such as Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, which had long provided independent coverage of conflict-wracked Myanmar. The U.S. State Department had previously sanctioned the junta chief and others for using "violence and terror to oppress" Burmese people and "denying them the ability to freely choose their own leaders" [1].

Min Aung Hlaing asked Trump to "reconsider easing and lifting the economic sanctions imposed on Myanmar" and sought a tariff reduction to 10-20%. He thanked Trump for the "encouraging invitation to continue participating in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World" [1].

Trump's punitive tariff letters have left many nations scrambling to secure last-minute deals with Washington before the August 1 deadline. The U.S. has reached only two agreements so far, with the United Kingdom and Vietnam, while negotiations with India are ongoing [2].

The move is seen as the first public recognition of the junta's rule by the U.S., with Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group stating that any earlier private communications would "almost certainly not have been from Trump" [1].

References:
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/myanmar-military-junta-trump-sincere-appreciation-sanctions-letter/
[2] https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/14-countries-facing-trumps-new-tariffs-japan-bangladesh-south-korea-8840274