Sanctions Vs. Embargo—What’s the Difference?

• August 1, 2024
• Rachna Pandya

Sanctions are targeted and specific, while embargoes are comprehensive and broad-reaching.

Let’s learn all about sanctions vs. embargo in AML in this article.

To begin with, sanctions and embargoes are economic tools used in international relations to influence the behavior of countries, organizations, or individuals.

While often used interchangeably, they have distinct differences in their application, scope, and goals.

In this piece, we will explore the core differences between sanctions and embargoes. Additionally, we will examine sanctions vs. embargoes in the context of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance initiatives.

Now, let’s get started!

Sanctions Vs. Embargoes—What’s the Main Difference?

Sanctions and embargoes differ primarily in their scope and intensity.

• Sanctions can be targeted and selective, affecting specific individuals, entities, or sectors.

• Embargoes, on the other hand, involve a comprehensive prohibition on trade with a target country.

Sanctions include measures like freezing the assets of specific individuals involved in terrorism, such as targeted sanctions against North Korean officials.

Conversely, an embargo, like the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, halts nearly all trade and economic activities with the country.

What Are Sanctions?

Sanctions are punitive measures imposed to restrict or prohibit certain activities by a country, organization, or individual. They are designed to influence behavior and enforce compliance with international laws.

They aim to:

• Compel compliance with international laws.

• Punish illegal activities such as terrorism.

• Address nuclear proliferation.

• Prevent human rights violations.

Types of Sanctions

Sanctions can be specifically targeted, and they include:

• Economic Sanctions: Restrict trade of specific goods and services.

• Financial Sanctions: Freeze assets and limit financial transactions.

• Travel Bans: Prohibit individuals from entering or leaving certain countries.

• Military Sanctions: Restrict the sale or transfer of military equipment.

• Diplomatic Sanctions: Reduce or eliminate diplomatic ties, such as withdrawing ambassadors or closing embassies.

What Are Embargoes?

Embargoes are comprehensive bans on trade with a specific country. They prohibit all commerce and trade activities with the target nation and are often used to:

• Isolate the country economically.

• Isolate the country politically.

Types of Embargoes

Embargoes are generally broad-reaching:

• Trade Embargoes: Ban on importing or exporting goods and services.

• Military Embargoes: Prohibit the sale or transfer of military equipment and technology.

• Financial Embargoes: Block financial transactions and investments with the target country​.

Difference Between Sanctions and Embargoes

Here’s a comparison chart to vividly understand the difference between sanctions and embargoes from an AML compliance perspective.

Key Takeaways on Sanctions and Embargoes

Though the difference between sanctions and embargoes is an interesting chapter to unearth, both are equally critical tools in international diplomacy.

Both sanctions and embargoes are:

✔ employed to apply pressure,

✔ induce a change in a targeted country’s behavior,

✔ uphold international standards,

✔ enforce compliance with global norms.

Sanctions and embargoes inevitably contribute to AML-CFT compliance measures by:

✦ disrupting financial flows,

✦ deterring illegal activities,

✦ protecting the integrity of the global financial system.

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Top FAQs On Sanctions and Embargoes

1. What is the difference between embargo and blockade?

An embargo is a governmental ban on trade with a specific country, typically to exert economic pressure. A blockade, however, is a military action that prevents goods or people from entering or leaving a region, aiming to isolate and weaken the target.

2. What is the difference between sanction and boycott?

Sanctions are official penalties imposed by governments or international bodies on countries, organizations, or individuals to enforce international law or policy. A boycott is a voluntary and often grassroots refusal by individuals or groups to engage in commercial or social relations with a country, organization, or individual to protest policies or actions.

3. What is the meaning of international sanctions?

International sanctions are measures imposed by countries or international organizations to compel a state or entity to comply with international laws or norms. They can include economic restrictions, travel bans, and other forms of penalties.

4. What is the meaning of embargo in economics?

In economics, an embargo is a government order that restricts commerce or exchange with a specified country or the exchange of specific goods. This is done to exert political or economic pressure on the target country.

5. What is the purpose of economic embargo?

The purpose of an economic embargo is to isolate and pressure a country into changing its policies or behavior, often related to issues like human rights abuses, military aggression, or nuclear proliferation. It aims to create significant economic hardship as leverage.

6. What are three trade restriction methods?

Three trade restriction methods are tariffs, which are taxes on imports; quotas, which set a limit on the amount of goods that can be imported; and non-tariff barriers, such as regulations and standards that restrict imports.

7. Which of these is an example of a trade restriction?

An example of a trade restriction is a tariff, such as the import duties imposed by the United States on Chinese goods, which are intended to protect domestic industries and counteract unfair trade practices.

8. What is the term for trade restriction?

The term for trade restriction is “protectionism,” which encompasses various measures like tariffs, quotas, and non-tariff barriers designed to protect domestic industries from foreign competition.

9. What are the UN economic sanctions?

UN economic sanctions are restrictive measures imposed by the United Nations Security Council against countries, organizations, or individuals that threaten international peace and security. These can include asset freezes, travel bans, arms embargoes, and trade restrictions.

10. What does economic sanctions mean for Russia?

Economic sanctions on Russia mean restrictions imposed by other countries or international bodies to limit its economic activities, often in response to actions like the annexation of Crimea or interference in other countries’ affairs. These sanctions can impact sectors like finance, energy, and military exports, aiming to pressure Russia to change its policies.