Trade Embargo

A trade embargo is a government-imposed restriction on the trading of certain products, goods or services. It restricts people and companies from buying and selling with the affected country or entity, potentially interrupting international commerce between two entities. A trade embargo can be used as a form of economic retaliation or method of persuasion when disagreements arise between countries due to political issues like human rights violations, environmental concerns or financial disputes. 

Trade embargos carry far reaching consequences that could have long-term impacts on countries or territories, businesses and individuals alike, regardless of their involvement in the dispute. Read on to learn more about what exactly constitutes a trade embargo and how they work in real life scenarios.

Embargo: A Definition

Embargoes are powerful tools used by governments, groups of nations and international organisations to apply economic sanctions. 

Some include trade restrictions, which can be wide-reaching, blocking all imports or exports between countries; alternatively, they may only target specific items such as arms. 

Embargoes have been utilised as a means of punishing a country for their actions while preventing them from continuing these policies in future.

What is the Purpose of a Trade Embargo?

Embargoes are an effective means of enacting economic sanctions that governments use to respond to the objectionable actions or policies of other states. These embargoes can prove a powerful tool in halting international trade and delivering consequences for those nations exhibiting concerning behaviour.

They can take the form of prohibitions on the import or export of certain goods, services or technologies; limits placed on financial transactions between two countries; or sanctions against entire sectors of a country's economy. 

Trade embargoes are often used to pressure a foreign government into changing policies, such as reducing trade protectionism or halting activities perceived as human rights violations. 

Embargoed countries may suffer major economic losses from the restrictions imposed on trade, making them an attractive option for governments looking to make a statement without escalating tensions. 

However, trade embargoes can also cause unintended consequences if they are not carefully managed, such as reducing trade opportunities for other countries or creating trade barriers for small businesses. Trade embargoes also have the potential to seriously impact the citizens of either nation involved in the dispute.

What Other Types of Embargoes Are There?

Besides trade embargoes, there are several other types of embargoes that can be imposed by a country or an international body. 

These include financial embargoes, which involve freezing assets and blocking access to certain banking services; travel embargoes, which prevent individuals from entering a designated country; and arms embargoes, which prohibit the trade of certain weapons and materials. 

In addition, some countries impose media embargoes that limit or prohibit the dissemination of information to foreign audiences. Finally, there are sanctions such as asset freezes and trade restrictions that can be imposed on individuals or entities for violating international law. 

Other Types of Trade Restrictions

Apart from trade embargoes, there are other forms of trade restrictions. These include tariffs, subsidies, quotas and countervailing duties. 

Tariffs are taxes imposed on goods or services as they cross a national border. They can be used to protect domestic production by raising the cost of imports and making them less attractive. 

Subsidies are payments made by governments to domestic producers in order to encourage production or consumption of certain products. This helps to reduce competition from imported goods and protect domestic industries. 

Quotas limit the amount of a product that can be imported during a given period of time, helping to protect domestic industry from foreign competitors. 

Countervailing duties (sometimes referred to as anti-dumping duties) are taxes imposed by governments on imported goods that have been sold below cost in order to protect domestic industry from foreign competitors. 

All of these trade restrictions can be used to limit the flow of imports and promote domestic production, but they can also cause disruption and harm to other countries’ economies.

Are Embargoes and Sanctions the Same?

No, embargoes and sanctions are not the same. An embargo is a legal restriction on trade or other transactions with a certain nation or company while a sanction is a type of penalty imposed by one country's government upon another country's government, or sometimes, an organisation or individual. 

The purpose of an embargo is to prevent goods from being imported into the region for political reasons; it may also refer to the suspension of diplomatic relations with that region or country. A sanction, however, serves as a punitive measure designed to affect foreign policy objectives. Sanctions can vary widely in their severity and could include economic embargoes, asset freezes or travel bans. 

Real-World Examples of Trade Embargoes

US Trade Embargo on Cuba

The United States has imposed an embargo on Cuba since 1960, which forbids most American exports and imports with the country. This trade embargo was put in place in response to Fidel Castro's rise to power and nationalisation of Cuban businesses owned by US citizens. Following this, a series of additional laws were passed that tightened restrictions even further. 

The trade embargo includes a ban on Cuban imports to the US, an export ban on US goods to Cuba and restrictions on travel between the two countries. It also prohibits any foreign-based subsidiaries of American companies from trading with Cuba. The US government has stated that this embargo is designed to pressure the Cuban government towards democratic reforms. 

The embargo has been in place for over 60 years and has been met with international criticism. In October 2016, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to pass a resolution calling for an end to the US trade embargo on Cuba. The vote was 191 countries in favour of lifting the embargo and only two countries opposed (the United States and Israel). 

Despite the UN resolution, then US President Donald Trump tightened restrictions on Cuba in April 2019. He declared a new policy that limits travel to Cuba and restricts US citizens from doing business with Cuban entities tied to its military or intelligence services. There has been no change in the trade embargo and sanctions since then, meaning the US-Cuba relationship remains strained. 

The future of the US embargo on Cuba remains uncertain, but it is clear that the current situation is causing significant economic hardship for Cubans. Until a resolution can be found between the two countries, it appears likely that the embargo will remain in place.

Multiple Countries’ Trade Embargo and Sanctions on Apartheid South Africa

The trade embargo on Apartheid South Africa was an international economic, cultural and political boycott first enacted in the late 1950s. It was initiated by many countries, including the UK, the United States, Australia and Japan, in response to South Africa's policy of racial segregation known as Apartheid. 

The embargo prohibited any country from trading with South Africa, including selling it arms or ammunition. The embargo also prevented investments and loans to South Africa, as well as the import of any goods made in South Africa. 

The UK's role in the trade embargo was officially established on 3 November 1985 when Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced a comprehensive ban on all forms of trade with South Africa. This was followed by the United Nations Security Council adopting a mandatory sanctions regime on 4 November 1987. 

The embargo was further strengthened in 1989 when the European Community (now the European Union) agreed to an arms embargo, as well as restrictions on military equipment and technology exports. 

The trade embargo and sanctions put pressure on South Africa's government to end the Apartheid system. After decades of civil unrest and negotiations, the South African government officially abolished Apartheid in 1991, and the trade embargo and sanctions were lifted by 1994. 

The trade embargo against South Africa was a significant milestone in international relations, as it demonstrated the power of international cooperation and solidarity among countries to effectively address human rights abuses around the world. Its success also served as an example of how economic sanctions can be used to bring about political and social change.

The Impact of Embargoes

Trade embargoes, on the surface, seem to be one of the most powerful tools available to governments and international organisations. They are used to put pressure on countries to change their policies or to punish them for human rights abuses. However, they rarely result in a policy change with regard to the targeted country.

The effects of an embargo depend on the type of embargo, its duration and the economic conditions in which it is imposed. Generally speaking, however, trade embargoes tend to harm both countries involved in one way or another. 

For instance, the US embargo with Cuba, which has been in place since 1960, has had a detrimental effect on the Cuban economy by restricting trade to only limited categories of goods and services. Similarly, the embargoes and sanctions imposed against South Africa during Apartheid have had long-term economic repercussions for the country, causing it to fall behind its neighbours in terms of GDP per capita growth.

In addition to the economic impact, trade embargoes can also have a serious political and social cost. In Cuba’s case, for example, the embargo has been used by the Cuban government as an excuse for its own failures in providing basic services and improving living standards. Similarly, in South Africa, the sanctions imposed during Apartheid were seen by many as a major factor in the regime’s eventual downfall. 

It is important to consider the potential impact of such measures before they are imposed. Trade embargoes may have short-term gains, but the long-term consequences for both countries involved must be taken into account.

Summing Up

Trade embargoes have the potential to be a powerful tool used by governments or international organisations to apply economic and diplomatic pressure on certain countries or entities.

They are not without their complications, however; they have the potential to create a range of negative effects on both sides of the embargo. Governments should therefore consider all the possible implications of imposing a trade embargo and weigh the potential costs against the desired outcomes.