U.S. Sanctions on Myanmar Formally Eased WASHINGTON - The White House on Wednesday formally eased sanctions on Myanmar, signaling support for its recent governmental reforms and officially opening the door to American investment in the deeply impoverished Asian nation. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced plans in the spring for a "targeted easing" of sanctions to allow American dollars to enter the country, for decades one of the most authoritarian in the world. But companies could not move ahead until the sanctions were formally suspended. The United States still will not allow investment in entities owned by Myanmar's armed forces or its Ministry of Defense. It also bolstered its ability to place sanctions on "those who undermine the reform process, engage in human rights abuses, contribute to ethnic conflict or participate in military trade with North Korea." And it will require American companies pouring money into Myanmar to make disclosures about their activities. "Individuals who continue to engage in abusive, corrupt or destabilizing behavior going forward will not reap the rewards of reform," President Obama said in a statement, while praising the country's progress. The announcement came on the day that Derek J. Mitchell, the first United States ambassador to Myanmar since 1990, arrived at his posting. Relations between the United States and Myanmar have thawed remarkably since the election of President U Thein Sein last year. The government has released some political prisoners and opened peace talks with opposition groups, among other changes. While the administration has praised the changes in Myanmar, Mr. Obama said the United States "remains deeply concerned about the lack of transparency in Burma's investment environment and the military's role in the economy," using an alternative name for the country. The United States will continue to block businesses or individuals from making transactions with any "specially designated nationals" or businesses that they control - allowing Washington, for example, to stop money from flowing to groups disrupting the reform process. Mr. Obama also created a new power for the government to impose "blocking sanctions" on any individual threatening peace in Myanmar. Businesses with more than $500,000 in investment in the country will need to file an annual report with the State Department, with details on workers" rights, land acquisitions and any payments of more than $10,000 to government entities, including Myanmar's state-owned enterprises. Some pro-democracy leaders had wanted stricter sanctions. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the well-known opposition figure, had urged foreign governments not to allow investment in the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise. She has raised questions about its transparency, while others have voiced concerns about whether it might funnel money to antidemocratic military figures. American companies and people will be allowed to invest in the firm. But any investors will need to notify the State Department. Canada, Australia and the European Union have also eased sanctions on Myanmar recently. Many American businesses have pushed for the quick relaxation of sanctions, so that United States companies would not be left out of a possible investment boom. Myanmar is the second-poorest country in Asia on a per capita basis, richer only than war-torn Afghanistan.