Title 50War and National DefenseRelease 119-73

§1707 Multinational economic embargoes against governments in armed conflict with the United States

Title 50 › Chapter CHAPTER 35— - INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY ECONOMIC POWERS › § 1707

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When U.S. forces fight a foreign country, the President must try to get other nations to join an economic embargo and must try to seize that country’s foreign financial assets. Within 20 days after the fighting begins, if the conflict has lasted 14 days, the President must send Congress a report saying what steps have been or will be taken to start the embargo and seize assets and naming foreign trade or revenue sources that help the other government keep fighting.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §1707

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It is the policy of the United States, that upon the use of the Armed Forces of the United States to engage in hostilities against any foreign country, the President shall, as appropriate—
(1)seek the establishment of a multinational economic embargo against such country; and
(2)seek the seizure of its foreign financial assets.
(b)Not later than 20 days after the first day of the engagement of the United States in hostilities described in subsection (a), the President shall, if the armed conflict has continued for 14 days, submit to Congress a report setting forth—
(1)the specific steps the United States has taken and will continue to take to establish a multinational economic embargo and to initiate financial asset seizure pursuant to subsection (a); and
(2)any foreign sources of trade or revenue that directly or indirectly support the ability of the adversarial government to sustain a military conflict against the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000, and not as part of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act which comprises this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 1707

Title 50War and National Defense

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73