Unilateral Restrictive Measures (the Case of U.S. Foreign Policy)

States apply unilateral restrictive measures with increasing frequency. The United States is a country that uses such measures most actively for its foreign policy purposes. In American legal doctrine term “unilateral restrictive measures” is often mistakenly identified with term “sanctions. American Law provides for two reasons for “sanctions” application – while declaring national emergency and without that. The first one is most frequently used and applied – as a rule – on the basis of President’s Order. Criteria for acknowledging certain situation “extraordinary and threatening to US interests” are vague thus creating broad opportunities for power abuse. Sanctions against Russia were enforced in 2014 after Moscow’s actions were construed as threatening to US security. The question of unilateral sanctions’ legality is highly controversial. Exterritorial character of certain US restrictions is especially criticized. Effectiveness of American restrictions is not obvious. Yet, combined with other foreign policy instruments they can yield desired results