The United States will begin easing an import ban on goods from Myanmar, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Myanmar leader Thein Sein, in a further lifting of sanctions on the country.

Clinton told the Myanmar president that in recognition of the rapid reforms his Southeast Asian nation, which was once ruled by a military junta, has undertaken "the United States is taking the next step in normalizing our commercial relationship."

"We will begin the process of easing restrictions on imports of Burmese goods into the United States. We hope this will provide more opportunities for your people to sell their goods into our market," she said.

Thein Sein met Clinton on Wednesday ahead of his address to the United Nations General Assembly tomorrow, during a landmark visit to the United States that coincides with the tour by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.