United States lifts sanctions on Myanmar national Theint Win Htet

The United States has removed Myanmar national Theint Win Htet from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List. The decision follows a legal challenge by Htet to contest her inclusion on the blacklist.

The U.S. Treasury Department indicated that the removal reflects a determination that the designation no longer effectively supports U.S. policy objectives regarding Myanmar. Theint Win Htet is the daughter of Thein Win Zaw, founder of the Shwe Byain Phyu Group of Companies, which was sanctioned in January 2024 for allegedly importing and distributing petroleum on behalf of the Myanmar military.

This policy shift occurs amid reports of the U.S. administration opening talks with Myanmar’s military-installed government, a move that signals a potential departure from previous efforts to isolate the junta following the 2021 coup. While the administration continues to use various tools to address the humanitarian crisis and combat scam centers, the removal of Htet from the sanctions list has drawn scrutiny regarding the changing political framework toward the regime.