[U.S. President George W. Bush imposed sanctions on North Korea, Myanmar and Cuba]

Reuters, 10 September 2003

WASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Reuters)—U.S. President George W. Bush imposed sanctions on North Korea, Myanmar and Cuba on Wednesday for failing to do enough to stop the trafficking of people forced into servitude or the sex trade.

The war-ravaged countries of Liberia and Sudan also failed to meet U.S. standards and are subject to sanctions. But the White House said providing them with some aid was in the national interest of the United States.

In Sudan's case, the White House said assistance would be limited to that which may be necessary to implement a peace accord.

The United States already has sweeping sanctions in place on North Korea, Myanmar and Cuba, so the new ones should have minimal effect. An administration official said Bush's announcement could translate into further travel restrictions, and may bring to an end some educational and cultural exchanges.

Ten countries avoided sanctions under the so-called Trafficking Victims Protection Act because of significant steps their governments have taken to fight trafficking in persons, the White House said. They are Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Suriname, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

These important actions will punish the perpetrators and help the victims of this heinous crime around the world, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

The announcement followed the release in June of the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons Report on the 800,000 to 900,000 people the United States estimates are smuggled across international borders each year, many of them forced into prostitution or other involuntary servitude.