Should The United States condition our trade policies based on the country's human rights record of other countries? Rating Options

[BamBamBoogie]

This is also a topic my team will be debating soon. I think that this is a really good one.

[BamBamBoogie]

I agree, but on the other hand, if we worry too much about these issues under other countries' governments, aren't we kinda threatening/disregarding/underestimating their sovereignty?

[mipadi]

I agree, but on the other hand, if we worry too much about these issues under other countries' governments, aren't we kinda threatening/disregarding/underestimating their swovereignty?

No. We're not forcing our policies and views on other countries. They're free to treat their people however they see fit. A reluctance to violate the sovereignty of another nation doesn't mean that the policies of those nations should have zero consequences.

[BamBamBoogie]

No. We're not forcing our policies and views on other countries. They're free to treat their people however they see fit. A reluctance to violate the sovereignty of another nation doesn't mean that the policies of those nations should have zero consequences.

well if we are respecting their policies and views on how to treat their people, then why should the policies have consequences. Although we may not want to believe that we are forcing our ideas on them, we are in a way. We're basically saying that "if you don't do things the way we like it, we won't be your friend." Now it may not be best to completely ignore the human rights of other countries, but a refusal of trade or even embargos only cause more harm to the citizens who are being victimized in the first place.