Our first line of action against other countries should be to aggressively pursue all appropriate diplomatic options. Thus, diplomatic and economic engagement is generally the preferred strategy to influence behavior. Diplomatic measures can range from the symbolic, such as withdrawing an Ambassador or reducing Embassy staff, to denying visas to specific figures, to the more formal such as entering into concerted action with like-minded countries. In general, economic sanctions should be resorted to only after other available options have been aggressively pursued and have failed or have been judged inadequate or inappropriate. Third, sanctions are most effective when they have broad multilateral support.
Multilateral sanctions maximize international pressure on the offending state.
They show unity of international purpose and are more difficult to evade or undermine. They minimize the damage to US competitiveness and distribute more equitably the cost of sanctions across the countries. We should make a maximum effort to develop a multilateral sanctions regime whenever such measures are considered and should allow a reasonable period of time to develop an international consensus for such sanctions. In today s interdependent, global economy, the ability of the United States unilaterally to deny key economic benefits to a target country is sharply limited. There are few products or services for which the United States is the sole supplier.