by Gary Hufbauer

About the author: Gary Hufbauer is a fellow of the Institute for International Economics and is coauthor of Economic Sanctions Reconsidered.

Editors Note: In September 1991, the Haitian military overthrew Haiti’s first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and took control of the country. In June 1993, the United Nations imposed economic sanctions on Haiti in an attempt to weaken the military’s hold. In September 1994, under the threat of an imminent invasion by U.S. forces, the military leaders stepped down and allowed Aristide to return to power.

Economic sanctions against Haiti are now in place [as of June 1994], aimed at allowing only food, medicine and cooking gas to enter that country. Sanctions against North Korea, too, are being seriously discussed: They were endorsed by both Rep. Newt Gingrich (R., Ga...