A more thorough explanation:

A trade embargo is a government's decision to stop or restrict trade with another country. This can happen during wartime or peacetime. It means that the government will not allow private ships from the other country to enter its ports.

For example, during the Cold War, the United States imposed a trade embargo on Cuba. This meant that American companies could not do business with Cuba, and Cuban ships were not allowed to enter American ports.

Another example is when the United Nations imposed a trade embargo on Iraq in 1990. This was in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The embargo meant that Iraq could not sell its oil to other countries, and other countries could not sell goods to Iraq.

These examples illustrate how a trade embargo can be used as a political tool to put pressure on another country. It can be a way to show disapproval of a country's actions or to try to force them to change their behavior.