An embargo is a government-imposed restriction on the trading of certain products, goods, or services with a specified country, usually as a result of political or economic problems. Embargoes 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. Embargoes can bar all trade or be specific to certain categories of goods, scientific and technical information, transport, and other services. Embargoes can be imposed both in war and peacetime, covering all aspects of trade and economic activity. Countries use embargoes to punish and deter objectionable behavior without resorting to military force, often in response to human rights violations and armed conflict. Embargoes can be a powerful tool, isolating the targeted country and denying it the benefits of international trade. However, they rarely result in a change in policy, much less in the targeted countrys government. Embargoes can be classified based on their scope, duration, and purpose. Some examples of embargoes include:

• Trade Embargo: This refers to the banning of imports or exports, or both, of goods from a specified country. This can be narrowed down to specific strategic types of embargoes that restrict only the import and export of certain types of goods, to protect particular animals, people, or plants, for example.

• Military or Arms Embargo: This prevents the exchange of military goods with a country.

• Fuel Embargo: This targets only trades of oil or other fuels.

The United Nations provides the possibility of imposing an embargo as a collective repressive measure against a specific country or countries whose actions pose a threat to international security. The restrictions may serve as a basis for suspending or terminating the performance of all or some specific obligations of specific countries, their organizations, and citizens. Embargoes are most often directed at a country or a group of countries.