US GAO Report to The US Congress (2009)

(This is US GAO - Government Accountability Office - Report on the Burmese Jade Act.)

Why GAO Did This Study

Burmese Rubies : From Rough to Polished.

Congress passed the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act in 2008 prohibiting the import of Burmese-origin jadeite, rubies, and related jewelry and calling for certain international actions. The act also requires GAO to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of this section of the act.

This report assesses (1) key characteristics of the trade of Burmese-origin jadeite and rubies; (2) progress agencies have made to restrict imports of Burmese-origin jadeite, rubies, and related jewelry; and (3) the progress agencies have made in pursuing international actions.

GAO reviewed and analyzed policy guidance, reports, and trade data and interviewed officials from the Departments of State (State), Homeland Security (DHS), other U.S. agencies, as well as U.S. and foreign jewelry industry representatives and foreign government officials.


What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that DHS, in consultation with relevant agencies, take additional steps to issue guidance regarding imports of non-Burmese-origin goods, and that State, in consultation with DHS and the Department of the Treasury, analyze JADE Act measures and challenges and report to Congress how such measures contribute to its efforts to exert influence on the Burmese regime.

DHS concurred with our first recommendation and State concurred with our second recommendation.

(The full report is here at this link.)