Washington delists daughter of Myanmar tycoon with military ties
The US Treasury has removed Theint Win Htet, daughter of Myanmar businessman Thein Win Zaw, from its sanctions list. The move came after reports that the Trump administration had restarted dialogue with Myanmar’s government. She had sued over the measures, arguing she was not involved in her father’s company, which Washington said provided fuel to the armed forces.
Theint Win Htet's delisting followed a legal challenge. She first sought removal under Biden; that suit was dismissed. In July she filed again, saying she had no role in her father's business. Her lawyer told a Washington court Friday the case should be voluntarily dropped after Treasury delisted her.
Sanctions had frozen her US credit cards, restricted foreign bank accounts, and forced her to leave a Columbia University master's program. She now lives in Thailand with her mother, delisted last year. Treasury had sanctioned her father's Shwe Byain Phyu Group in January 2024, alleging it furnished fuel for the military and was connected to at least 20 companies tied to military leaders.
The delisting could ease personal restrictions for Theint Win Htet and may affect how other sanctioned family members view legal challenges. It might also shape perceptions of US sanctions enforcement, potentially weakening pressure on military-linked business networks if seen as a broader opening. For Myanmar civilians and advocacy groups, the move may deepen concerns about accountability, while any renewed dialogue could create uncertain prospects for humanitarian access or political change.