US designates ICC body as subject to sanctions, poised to ``dismantle'' it - 180-day grace period also available

[Washington Current Affairs] On the 9th, the US government designated the International Criminal Court (ICC, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands) as subject to sanctions. The announcement was made several hours after Navi Pillay, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and former ICC judge, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Trump administration, which has criticized the ICC for ``posing a threat to U.S. sovereignty,'' has stepped up its pressure.

ICC Director Akane ``The importance of international justice has been recognized'' as former ICC Judge Pillay is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

The ICC is a permanent international court that tries individuals who have committed war crimes. The Trump administration has objected to the ICC's threat of indicting US soldiers over which it has no jurisdiction. Secretary of State Rubio stressed in a statement, ``Either the ICC stops threatening us, or we will end the ICC,'' and indicated that he would not hesitate to ``dismantle it.''

Under the latest sanctions, the ICC will be prohibited from doing business with U.S. companies and will be barred from making dollar-denominated payments. Although it may disrupt business operations, a grace period of 180 days will be provided to allow activities related to maintaining organizational operations. The State Department said the grace period was meant to give member countries time to address U.S. concerns.

On September 22, President Trump criticized the ICC in his general debate speech at the United Nations General Assembly, calling it a "rogue agency" that is out of control. It called on all member states to withdraw immediately. There is also the possibility that Japan will step up efforts to reach out to its allies, including Japan.