econooic sanctions or other discrlminatory measures being applied aqainst i! for purety political reasons, and the threat of such oeasures has become a cobstant factor in the present-day climate of lnternational trade and economi c relations' DiscrininaEory -economic ianctions are used against socialist as well as developing countries ln order to create economic difficulties for themr thereby npunishing" them for sone action unpa!.atable to United States ruling circles. A recenC example of this policy lra s the introduction by the Uniteal States eiovernment of the trade and econonic blockade against Nicaragua in !4ay this year. 4. coercive econonic measures are a gross violalion of the charter of the united I,tations, the Declaration on Prlnciples of International I€r, concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among states, the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of Statea, and the Declaration and the Prograome of Action on the Establishment of a New International Econonic Order, as well as tbe established practic€ in internatlonal relations. 5. ft is conmon knowleilge that many of the co€rcive econoftic measures uere first aalopted unsuccessfully against the union of soviet socialists Republics (sanctions, boycotts, embargoes) and subsequently extended to other countries. particularly developing states. 6. The r.ork of the united Nations and its competent bodies, particularly UNCTAD' to counteract the practice of adopting economlc measures as a means of political and economic coercion against individual States or groups of countries must be cdnducted on a universal basls, taking into account all- aspects of this urgent problem. inctuding the interests of all countries against which such roeasures are alirected. otly by atlopLing such an aPproach ni}l it be possible to achieve positive results in thls uork. Ih this connectton, it should be borne in mind that there is a real danger of such econooic measures also being applied aqainst the
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the use of economic sanctions and other discriminatory measures as a means of political coercion against socialist and developing countries. The author is arguing that these measures are a violation of international law and that they have a negative impact on the economies of the targeted countries. The text also mentions the work of the United Nations in addressing this issue.

**Category**
International trade, Humanitarian aid and relief