retorsion

or re·tor·tion

[ ri-tawr-shuhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, International Law.

retaliation or reprisal by one state identical or similar to an act by an offending state, such as high tariffs or discriminating duties.

retorsion

/ rɪˈtɔːʃən /

rare.
retaliatory action taken by a state whose citizens have been mistreated by a foreign power by treating the subjects of that power similarly; reprisal

1650–60; < Medieval Latin retorsiōn- (stem of retorsiō, variant of retortiō ); retortion

C17: from French; see retort ¹

Although such acts may be met by retorsion, they are not illegal and therefore not delinquent acts.

It can, secondly, exercise retorsion and reprisals for the purpose of making the other State comply with its demands.

Retorsion, reprisals, pacific blockade, and war will be treated in the second volume of this work.

For the application of retorsion is confined to political, and that of reprisals to legal differences.

The question when retorsion is and when it is not justified is not one of law, and is difficult to answer.

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