1. What is meant by an embargo?
A: The term “embargo” is understood to mean economic sanctions by states or international law associations vis-à-vis individual countries with the aim of inducing them to seek political action through the resulting pressure.
2. When will an embargo be used?
A: The embargo will be used when all diplomatic attempts have failed and it is usually the last resort outside of war to force a discredited state leadership to give in.
3. Give an example of a “total embargo”!
A: US trade embargo on Cuba, which has existed since 1962 with a brief break under US President Barack Obama.
4. What impact did the export embargo of OPEC in 1973 have?
A: The sudden increase in oil prices led to an economic crisis in the industrialized countries of the time.
5. Give an example of a food embargo!
A: A food embargo is e.g. between the EU and Russia. The reason for this trade escalation is the incorporation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in 2014.
6. For what reasons is an arms embargo imposed?
A: It is either trying to contain a war or to maintain neutrality in a warlike conflict. e.g. UNO imposed in 2015 against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
7. What is meant by a financial embargo?
A: In a financial embargo, all capital flows to and from a particular country are prevented. In addition, credits that are located abroad are frozen.
8. In which countries does embargoes make sense?
A: Trade embargos only make sense if they are sold by economically strong countries such as United States or Community of States (EU).
9. How do countries that have been embargoed respond?
A: They respond by also imposing economic sanctions.
10. Why is an embargo never a constructive solution?
A: An embargo is therefore never a constructive solution, but wants to achieve with pressure what conversations could not. In addition, their own companies are also affected by an import or export ban.
