trade embargo
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A trade embargo is an official government order that prohibits or severely restricts trade with a specific country or region. It is a type of economic sanction used as a foreign policy tool.
Usage
A trade embargo is a formal, legal measure enacted by a government or an international body. It is used to isolate a target nation economically, often to pressure it to change its policies or behavior. The term is typically used in political, economic, and news contexts.
Examples
- The United Nations voted to impose a trade embargo on the nation due to its human rights violations.
- The trade embargo prevented the import of essential goods, crippling the country's economy.
- Lifting the decades-old trade embargo was a major step toward normalizing diplomatic relations.
Advanced Usage
- "To impose/enact/levy a trade embargo": This is the standard phrasing for when a government or organization officially puts an embargo into effect.
- Example: The council moved to impose a comprehensive trade embargo.
- "To lift/ease a trade embargo": This refers to the action of removing or reducing the restrictions.
- Example: The president signed an order to lift the trade embargo.
Variants and Related Words
- Embargo (n.): A broader term that can refer to an official ban on trade or other commercial activity. "Trade embargo" is a specific type of embargo.
- Sanction (n.): A general term for punitive measures, which can include trade embargoes, asset freezes, or travel bans.
- Blockade (n.): A physical act of preventing goods or people from entering or leaving a place, often enforced by military means. A blockade is an enforcement mechanism that can be part of an embargo.
Synonyms
- Trade ban
- Trade prohibition
- Economic embargo
- Boycott (though a boycott is often initiated by private groups or individuals, not necessarily a government order)
Antonyms
- Free trade
- Open market
Related Phrases
- "Under a trade embargo": Describes the status of a country that is subject to such restrictions.
- Example: For years, the island nation lived under a strict trade embargo.
Noun
- a government order imposing a trade barrier