FACTBOX: Sanctions on Myanmar

(Reuters) - The European Union said it would toughen its sanctions against Myanmar after Tuesday's latest conviction of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and France and Britain called for global arms and economic embargoes.

Here is an overview of existing sanctions on the former Burma and its rulers:

EU SANCTIONS:

-- The EU adopted a Common Position on Myanmar in 1996 including a ban on the sale or transfer from the EU of arms or weapons expertise to Myanmar, or of any equipment that might be used for internal repression.

-- EU governments tightened sanctions after a crackdown on pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in September 2007, targeting 1,207 firms with measures including visa bans and asset freezes.

-- In April the EU extended for another year a visa ban and asset freezes on members of the Myanmar military government and its backers. It has long called for the release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

-- France said on Tuesday there should be a global embargo on arms sales to Myanmar and economic sanctions focused on its key exports, timber and rubies. Britain called for the U.N. Security Council to impose a global arms embargo.

U.S. SANCTIONS:

-- The United States first imposed broad sanctions in 1988 after the junta's crackdown on student-led protests. It banned new investment in Myanmar by U.S. persons or entities in 1997.

-- Washington has gradually tightened sanctions to try to force Myanmar's generals into political rapprochement with Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, which won a landslide election victory in 1990 but was kept out of power by the junta.

-- President Barack Obama renewed the U.S. sanctions in May. Suu Kyi's latest trial has dashed the already slim chances that these will be eased.

-- In July 2008, the Treasury moved to block the assets and transactions of Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd and the Myanmar Economic Corp and their subsidiaries.

-- The moves banned American individuals and businesses from transactions with the firms and froze any assets they had under U.S. jurisdiction.

-- The Burma Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 banned all imports from Myanmar, restricted financial transactions, froze the assets of certain Myanmar financial institutions and extended visa restrictions on junta officials.

OTHER SANCTIONS:

AUSTRALIA -- Has maintained visa restrictions on senior junta figures and a ban on defense exports since 1988.

Announced financial sanctions in October 2007 against Myanmar's ruling generals and their families -- over 400 individuals in all.

CANADA -- Imposed sanctions in November 2007 banning exports to Myanmar, except for humanitarian goods, and barring imports. It also froze the Canadian assets of Myanmar citizens connected with the junta. Canada also prohibited the provision of financial services and the export of technical data to Myanmar, and banned new investment by Canadians.

NEW ZEALAND -- Has a long-standing ban on visas for military leaders and their families.

JAPAN -- Japan cut aid to Myanmar in October 2007.

ASIA -- Most Asian governments have favored a policy of engagement toward Myanmar.

China and India have been silent on the detention of Suu Kyi but the Philippines said it was "deeply troubled and outraged over the filing of trumped-up charges."

Sources: Reuters/www.berr.gov.uk