NEW YORK (AP) ― Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday the U.S. will ease its import ban on Myanmar that had been a key plank of remaining American economic sanctions.

“In recognition of the continued progress toward reform and in response to requests from both the government and the opposition, the United States is taking the next step in normalizing our commercial relationship,” Clinton said during a meeting with President Thein Sein on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

“We will begin the progress of easing restrictions on imports of Burmese goods into the United States,” Clinton said.

The announcement follows the Obama administration’s resumption of normal diplomatic relations and the suspension of a U.S. investment ban.

Wednesday’s third ever face-to-face between Clinton and Thein Sein was warm, a State Department official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the private meeting. It began with the Myanmar leader handing Clinton a letter to President Barack Obama.