Shipping companies trading with Myanmar look set to avoid the sanctions that have hampered similar activities in countries such as Venezuela and Iran.

Up to now, the US and its Western allies have restricted their sanctions to the military leaders behind the 1 February coup.

US President Joe Biden's administration has named 10 military officials and three companies connected to the armed forces as Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) in response to the military overthrowing the democratically elected government.