The Diplomat
A resolution approved yesterday by the European Parliament regarding Myanmar has been welcomed by the Spanish rice sector. By a large majority -667 votes in favor, 1 against and 27 abstentions- the European Parliament asked the Commission to review imports from Myanmar, including rice, clothing and footwear, after a coup d’état took place in that country on February 1.
Socialist MEP Nacho Sánchez Amor was one of the most active in the offensive to get Brussels to temporarily suspend trade preferences with Myanmar, as a way of pressuring the coup regime to respect human rights and, at the same time, to safeguard European producers in the most affected sectors.
Sánchez Amor placed special emphasis on the rice sector, after having met with representatives of Extremadura producers to express his solidarity and support. Hence, later in his speech in the plenary of the European Parliament stressed the need to act on imports from Myanmar to defend the rice sector in countries like Spain (in regions such as Andalusia, Extremadura, Valencia, Aragon and Catalonia), Italy, Portugal and Greece.
