Ruling Against Myanmar Boycott Law Upheld

A federal appeals court upheld a lower court decision to strike down a Massachusetts law that bars the state from doing business with companies that trade with Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. In a decision that could affect dozens of states and local governments with economic boycotts protesting perceived social or political injustices in foreign lands, a three-judge panel of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Massachusetts law “interferes with the foreign affairs power of the federal government and is thus unconstitutional.” Massachusetts, which enacted its law in 1996 because of human rights violations by Myanmar’s military dictators, is expected to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. More than 20 states and local governments--including New York City and San Francisco--have Myanmar boycott laws. The ruling could also endanger laws barring the buying of goods from sweatshops or bans on investments in Northern Ireland-based companies that engage in religious discrimination. The appeals court ruling reaffirmed a November decision by U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro declaring that the Massachusetts’ law “infringes on the federal government’s power.”