Embargo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An embargo is the prohibition of commerce and trade with a certain country, in order to isolate it and to put its government into a difficult internal situation, given that the effects of the embargo are often able to make its economy suffer from the initiative. It is similar to a blockade, as in "el bloqueo" or the American blockade on Cuba.
Embargos generally pressurise weaker adversaries to do what the abarcading country wishes.
One of the most comprehensive attempts at an embargo happened during the Napoleonic Wars. In an attempt to cripple the United Kingdom economically, the Continental System- which forbade European nations from trading with the UK- was created. In practice it was not completely enforceable and was as harmful if not more so to the nations involved than to the British.
The United States imposed an embargo on Cuban Castro government on February 7,1962.[1] Oddly enough, United States law prohibit participation in secondary embargos. This occurs when one country pressures a business to stop doing business with a third country over issues with which the business is not directly involved. Not only is an American business required not to participate in a secondary embargo, but is also required to report all attempts to get a business to participate in a secondary embargo. The situation which led to these laws are attempts by Arab countries to prevent American companies from doing business with Israel and Iraq.
However, USA policy does not prohibit 'primary' embargos i.e. it allows the USA itself to embargo, but does not allow other countries to do so if it affects the USA.
Embargos are traditionally considered acts of war[2], but are often more complex in their international meaning. In response, an independent economy or autarchy often develops in an area subjected to a heavy embargo.
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_embargo_against_Cuba
- ^ "Blockade as Act of War". Crimes of War Project. http://www.crimesofwar.org/thebook/blockade-act-war.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-13.
