Sanctions and Human Rights: Coordinating Pressure on Bad Actors

Canada and the United States frequently coordinate economic sanctions against regimes that violate human rights, threaten international security, or engage in corruption. This coordination amplifies the impact of sanctions that either country could impose alone. However, differences in legal frameworks, priorities, and approaches sometimes create divergence in how each country uses these tools. Understanding both the cooperation and the distinctions illuminates an important dimension of the bilateral relationship.