Trading with the Enemy Act
Trading with the Enemy Act: A 1917 federal law (now 50 U.S.C. §§ 4301–4341) giving the President power over trade and financial transactions with enemy nations in wartime. In 1933 Congress extended § 5(b) to peacetime national emergencies, and in 1977 limited it again to wartime, moving peacetime powers to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Its definition of "enemy" does not include U.S. citizens living in the United States.
What trading with the enemy act means
In short, trading with the enemy act is a term you will meet in court papers, rules and legal research. The definition above gives its usual meaning in American civil practice. However, the exact meaning can depend on the rule, statute or court decision that uses it. So it helps to read the term in context.
Where trading with the enemy act comes up
The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.
Read the source: Emergency Banking Act.
How to research the term
To research trading with the enemy act, begin with the rule, statute or contract where the word is used. Each one can give it a slightly different meaning. Then compare that text with how courts in your area have applied it. Also check the local rules of your court, since they can add requirements. If your case is in state court, the state rules control. So start with our state procedures guide to find them. In the end, always confirm that the source you rely on is current.
You can read the current federal court rules online for free.
Related legal terms
- Time-barred debt: a debt for which the statute of limitations has expired. Under Regulation F, 12 C.F.R. § 1006.26(b), a debt collector must not sue or threaten to sue to collect a time-barred debt.
- Title: has several meanings.
- Tort: a civil wrong, other than a breach of contract, that causes harm and for which the law allows a lawsuit for damages. Negligence, defamation and trespass are examples.
- Trademark: a word, name, symbol, device or combination of them that a person uses, or intends to use in commerce, to identify and distinguish his or her goods from those made or sold by others and to indicate their source (15 U.S.C. § 1127).
Why precise terms matter
Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.
Sources
Sources last reviewed: 2026-10-24
Lawtopolis provides legal information and education, not legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time; verify every authority against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your situation.