This statement draws on that extensive experience. Economic sanctions are an important tool of US foreign policy. In conjunction with diplomacy and other measures, sanctions seek to demonstrate US resolve and express outrage, change the behavior of the target country, and deter other countries from resorting to similar actions in the future. Sanctions do not operate in isolation from other US actions, and they should be consistent with and well-integrated into the overall US policy response. Accordingly, sanctions should be designed to fit the specific objectives of each case.
Sanctions provide a middle road response between diplomacy and military action.
As indicated in the attached charts, the number of ongoing sanctions cases has grown steadily over time. The United States has instituted new sanctions cases more often in the 1990s than in previous decades. US sanctions are authorized under a variety of statutes and executive orders. These laws are not always applied consistently and thus often send muddled signals of US intent. Successful cases have become increasingly rare as globalization has made it easier for target countries to tap international trade and capital markets and find alternative suppliers of goods and capital.