Abstract
Against this backdrop, the article analyses three types of recently enacted unilateral targetedsanctions. In particular, sanctions imposed on human rights grounds (‘Magnitsky-style sanc-tions’), those targeting perpetrators of cyber-attacks, and sanctions impacting trade in informa-tion and communications technology and services (ICTS) (e.g.,Huawei sanctions) arediscussed. The subsequent analysis focuses on the possible WTO-inconsistency of theseeconomic restrictions. Following this, the possibility to justify such sanctions under the nationalsecurity exception of Article XXI(b)(iii) of the General Agreement on TariffsandTrade(GATT) is explored. The conclusion emphasizes that the national security exception cannotbe used to justify all types of unilateral economic sanctions, even if these measures areintroduced to address national security concerns. This conclusion not only demonstratesinevitable boundaries of the national security clause but also reinforces the general tendencyof questioning the legality of unilateral economic sanctions.