United States sanctions imposed against other countries include:

• bans on arms-related exports,
• controls over dual-use technology exports,
• restrictions on economic assistance, and
• financial restrictions such as:
  • requiring the United States to oppose loans by the World Bank and other international financial institutions,
  • diplomatic immunity waived, to allow families of terrorism victims to file for civil damages in U.S. courts,
  • tax credits for companies and individuals denied, for income earned in listed countries,
  • duty-free goods exemption suspended for imports from those countries,
  • authority to prohibit U.S. citizens from engaging in financial transactions with the government on the list, except by license from the U.S. government, and
  • prohibition of U.S. Defense Department contracts above $100,000 with companies controlled by countries on the list.
• Visa designations that prevent from entering the U.S.

According to American Studies academic Manu Karuka, the United States has imposed two-thirds of the world's sanctions since the 1990s. Numerous US unilateral sanctions against various countries around the world have been criticized by different commentators. It has imposed economic sanctions on more than 20 countries since 1998.