Sanctions, Economic, are actions that one or more countries take to limit or end their economic relations with a target country to try to persuade that country to change its policies. Economic sanctions hurt the target country by preventing it from selling its products or buying the products it wants. Sanctions are usually withdrawn once the target country changes its behavior.
Economic sanctions can take many forms. An embargo limits or prevents the shipment of goods to or from the target country. During a boycott, a country refuses to buy goods from the target country. A sanctioning country may raise tariffs (import taxes) on goods produced by the target country. It can also refuse to grant loans or other assistance to the target country. In some cases, a country may prevent citizens or businesses of the target country from using the property, bank accounts, and other assets they hold in the sanctioning country.
International organizations often encourage members to impose sanctions on countries that engage in unacceptable behavior. For instance, the United Nations coordinated sanctions against North Korea in 1950 for its invasion of South Korea, against South Africa in 1985 for its policy of apartheid (racial segregation), and against Iraq in 1990 for its invasion of Kuwait.
Many people argue that economic sanctions often fail to achieve the desired policy changes. Some argue that economic sanctions harm innocent people by preventing shipments of goods such as food and medicine. Nevertheless, sanctions remain a popular means of enforcing international law and attempting to influence countries’ behavior.
