WASHINGTON–International Criminal Court officials targeted by U.S. sanctions could find it difficult to use credit cards and may lose access to services provided by U.S. companies.
The United States on Aug. 18 sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and a senior trial lawyer at the court, based on an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February 2025.
The order bars sanctioned individuals and their family members from entering the United States. It also freezes any assets they hold there.
Economic transactions are prohibited with sanctioned individuals, which would have a far-reaching impact because the U.S. dollar serves as the world’s principal reserve currency.
Financial institutions and companies around the world need to maintain relationships with the United States.
They risk being fined if they are found engaging in business with sanctioned individuals.
ICC Judge Kimberly Prost, who was sanctioned in August 2025, told The Asahi Shimbun that she lost access to Amazon’s Kindle e-reader and the ride-hailing app Uber.
Successive U.S. administrations have taken a skeptical stance toward the ICC.
In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed the Rome Statute, the treaty that led to the court’s establishment.
However, he said he would not submit it to the Senate until concerns were resolved over what he described as serious flaws, including issues related to jurisdiction.
The decision effectively blocked U.S. ratification.
The Trump administration has displayed open hostility toward international institutions, such as the United Nations and the ICC.
In a media interview in January, the president said only his “own morality” constrains his global power.
“I don’t need international law” he said.
The administration’s repeated sanctions against ICC officials appear intended to deter criticism of U.S. military actions.
Military strikes against Venezuela and Iran this year were said by some to be highly likely violations of international law.
In the Caribbean and elsewhere, the Trump administration has attacked vessels it labeled drug-trafficking boats, resulting in many deaths.
In November 2025, a former ICC prosecutor said those actions could constitute crimes against humanity under international law.
In July, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States seeks to dismantle the ICC. He cited the former prosecutor’s statement as well as criticism of the U.S. pre-emptive strike on Iran.
He said actions by U.S. soldiers and border patrol agents to defend their own country could be criminalized.