From D.C. Across the Americas: U.S. Sanctions with Mark Weisbrot

Why It Matters

Because U.S. sanctions are responsible for hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths and may violate both international and domestic law, congressional oversight could dramatically reshape American foreign policy and mitigate humanitarian crises.

Key Takeaways

• U.S. sanctions cause roughly 564,000 deaths each year
• Sanctions violate international treaties and U.S. constitutional law
• Sanctions expanded from 24 targets in 1975 to 113 today
• Venezuela lost 74% of GDP, surpassing U.S. Great Depression
• Congressional action can limit sanctions, exemplified by Yemen war resolution

Summary

The video argues that U.S. sanctions wield unparalleled power over the global financial system, turning economic coercion into a lethal tool that rivals armed conflict in its human cost.

Researchers at the Center for Economic and Policy Research estimate 564,000 deaths annually from broad sanctions, a figure comparable to war casualties. The hosts contend that sanctions breach international treaties and the U.S. Constitution, yet presidents justify them through emergency executive orders claiming extraordinary threats—claims the speakers say are largely unfounded. Since 1975, sanctioned countries have risen from 24 to 113, making sanctions the Treasury’s “first‑resort” instrument.

Illustrative cases include Honduras’ 2022 election interference, Venezuela’s 74 % GDP collapse—three times the U.S. Great Depression—and a survey linking tens of thousands of Venezuelan deaths to the first year of Trump’s sanctions. Congressional actors, such as Rep. Jim McGovern and a bipartisan group of 21 members, have publicly challenged the policy, citing humanitarian impacts and urging the Biden administration to lift sanctions on Venezuela and Cuba.

If Congress can mobilize similar pressure, the entrenched sanctions regime could be reined in, reducing civilian mortality and restoring compliance with international law. The discussion underscores the strategic and moral stakes of U.S. economic coercion for policymakers, investors, and human‑rights advocates.

Original Description

🚨 NEW EPISODE of CEPR's Weekly Expert Video Series

"From D.C. Across the Americas"

This week: co-director Mark Weisbrot on U.S. sanctions

"The US has enormous power over the international financial system, which makes U.S. sanctions much more powerful, and therefore, deadly."