US removes Myanmar businessman's daughter from sanctions list

The United States removed Theint Win Htet, a Myanmar national and daughter of businessman Thein Win Zaw, from its sanctions list on 9 October, ending restrictions imposed in connection with her father’s business interests. The removal followed a lawsuit in which she said she had no active role in her father’s affairs. [refs: s1, s2]¹²

Delisting and legal challenge

The US Treasury Department took Theint Win Htet off its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List. According to reports, she brought a new complaint in July 2026 seeking removal from the list, arguing that she was not involved in her father’s businesses. Her Washington-based lawyer, Erich Ferrari, subsequently filed notice voluntarily dismissing the case after her delisting. [refs: s1, s2]¹²

Theint Win Htet had previously sought removal from the list, but her first case was dismissed in February 2025. She said the restrictions had affected her finances and studies. In a court filing cited by reports, she said: "Plaintiff’s US credit cards have been blocked, her foreign bank accounts have been restricted, closed, or refused, and she has been unable to complete her university studies in the United States." [refs: s1, s2]¹²

Business links cited by Treasury

Treasury targeted Thein Win Zaw, his family and the Shwe Byain Phyu Group of Companies in January 2024. The department said the group imported and distributed petroleum for Myanmar’s military, according to The Straits Times. Al Jazeera reported that the group supplied fuel to the military and that at least 20 associated firms had close links to military leadership. [refs: s1, s2]¹²

Under former president Joe Biden, the United States sanctioned high-ranking Myanmar military personnel and businesses following the 2021 coup. According to the reports, civil conflict across the country followed the coup, leaving an estimated 100,000 people dead and more than 3.5 million displaced. [refs: s1, s2]¹²

Talks and criticism

Reports indicated that President Donald Trump’s administration had begun discussions with Myanmar’s military-installed government. It was not clear whether the decision to delist Theint Win Htet was connected to those talks, according to The Straits Times. In July 2025, the United States also removed sanctions affecting several other Myanmar citizens and one company. [refs: s1, s2, s3]¹²³

Justice For Myanmar, a campaign group, condemned the Treasury decision. The group said: "Myanmar’s military is escalating attacks on civilians." It also criticised the removal of sanctions from Myanmar-linked figures and their relatives, saying such people provide funding for the junta’s terror. [refs: s1, s2]¹²