Charlotte Sieber-Gasser

So if IEEPA does not authorize the tariffs, and the tariffs were used to negotiate the trade deals ... what exactly is the statutory authorization for these trade deals? Does the administration think IEEPA authorizes negotiating the deals separately from the tariffs? What will SCOTUS think of that?

Could direct democracy trip up Swiss trade deals? As global trade rules fray, Swiss efforts to diversify export markets and partners could come with an added complication: the ballot box.

In #Switzerland, free trade agreements can only be ratified if they pass the optional public #referendum. This has a number of implications for the negotiating process, Switzerland's trade policy in general, and for the substance of direct democratic rights and trust in government. #democracy #trade

Herzliche Einladung zum 4. Forschungssymposium der Kalaidos Law School vom 29. Januar (16.00-19.30 Uhr, Zürich-Oerlikon) zum Thema "Schweizer Rechtskultur unter Druck: Prinzipien- versus regelbasierte Regulierung von Umweltaussagen und Börsen": www.kalaidos-fh.ch/de-CH/Verans...

Stories – to stay grounded and not to get lost in a zone flooded with *poop*

open.substack.com/pub/chsieber...

Subscribe to Law Matters Reflections of a law professor specialised in „controversial beliefs“ (see new Ohio higher education bill) such as foreign trade policy, democracy and sustainable development. Click to read Law Matter...

Trying something new in 2026 – "Law Matters" on Substack: chsiebergasser.substack.com/subscribe?pa...

#US-Switzerland #TradeDeal: These are NOT free and voluntary negotiations between equal partners. It is therefore highly questionable whether and how Switzerland is able to maintain democratic #legitimacy of the potential ratification of such an agreement given the circumstances.

Fact Sheet: The United States, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein Reach a Historic Trade Deal LOWERING AMERICA’S TRADE DEFICIT AND WELCOMING HUGE INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS: Today, President Donald J. Trump announced a Framework for a historic

Again, the interpretation of what is agreed differs between US and its trade partner – Switzerland communicated a different outcome than what's listed here. Is this a US strategy – to add items to the negotiating mandate after the fact? Or a strategy of US partners - to frame public opinion?

will be interesting to see what kind of WTO compatible solution CH found regarding the unilateral agricultural concessions towards US…

some aspects of Swiss gold trade might be moved to US (as part of the private sector investments in US)

not clear whether chlorinated chicken will find its way to Switzerland now…

will be subject to referendum

not legally binding - declaration of intent - should be transformed into proper agreement

Swiss concessions: some US agricultural products with reduced tariffs or bigger quotas. 200 billions FDI by private sector promised until end of 2028.

Switzerland has a deal with the US. A reduction to 15% tariffs (EU level - reduced from 39%) in return for 200 billions FDI… pharmaceuticals excluded from tariffs for the time being and with a maximum of 15% following section 232 investigations.

on-going negotiation, but not looking good…

Jetzt Nachtzug nach Malmö retten! 1. Klimaschutz durch echte Alternativen statt leere Versprechen Ein Nachtzug ersetzt Kurzstreckenflüge – und reduziert so den CO₂-Ausstoss. Gemäss Informationen der SBB verursacht eine Fahrt mit dem N...

Jetzt #Nachtzug nach Malmö retten!

Die Finanzkommission des Ständerates der #Schweiz hat die CHF 10 Mio. für die Förderung gestrichen!😭😭😭😭

Unterschreibe jetzt den offenen Brief an die Bundesversammlung!

#NightTrain #Nattåg #Nattog #ZugStattFlug #Bahnzeit #CrossBorderRail #EuropeByRail #NettoNull

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Trump’s “Emergency” Tariffs, live:
www.supremecourt.gov/oral_argumen...

Herzliche Einladung zur Buchvernissage! 📚 Am 23. Oktober um 18.30 Uhr in Bern – mit einer Ansprache von @nadinemasshardt.bsky.social, Einblicken in die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse aus dem Projekt sowie einem Apéro! 🥂 Anmeldung: saranka.thangeswaran@unibe.ch

@bfh-ch.bsky.social @cdeunibe.bsky.social

U.S. to impose 100% tariff on branded, patented drugs unless firms build plants locally, Trump says The measure will not apply to companies building drug manufacturing plants in the U.S., Trump added.

Does this really mean tariffs do not apply if there any kind of construction of any kind of pharmaceutical plant – even it totally unrelated to branded, patented drugs?

Back on air and speaking freely.

Quote: “The Trump Administration has taken direct aim at the First Amendment, the foundation stone of our democracy.”

"Falling Far and Fast"

Yale Law’s ROBERT POST — one of the nation’s foremost experts on freedom of speech — has been teaching First Amendment law for more than 40 years.

For the first time, he fears that freedom of speech in America is truly endangered.

verfassungsblog.de/turn-against...

The interesting question is also what qualifies as „controversial view“ - since even stating mere facts might be considered a „controversial view“. Press also needs to get this straight.

US justice department removes study finding far-right extremists commit ‘far more’ violence Report finding rightwing extremists have killed more Americans than other domestic terrorist groups vanished from DoJ website

and, well:

Right-wing extremist violence is more frequent and more deadly than left-wing violence − what the data shows Donald Trump and top administration officials confidently assert that left-wing political violence is a huge problem in the US. They’re wrong, say researchers who study extremism.

and:

Is “radical-left” violence really on the rise in America? The killing of Charlie Kirk is part of a grim pattern of political violence. This is what the data show

also:

10 Political Violence Experts on What Comes Next for America Can America escape the spiral of political violence after Charlie Kirk’s killing?

If statements of fact can get a satirical late night show cancelled, maybe it’s time to share more facts.

#jimmykimmel #democracy

very interesting – by experts, do you also include academics, or 'just' the earlier mentioned technocrats? and in both cases, I wonder whether it would not actually result in a systemic change of their role if they became public figures, given that their traditional role is one in the background...

Security policy is not my specialty. To understand better, I went to an event about the role of Europe in Swiss security policy: In essence, the panel held that we are not witnessing the transition to a multipolar world, but the global battle between democracy and autocracy. What if that’s true?! 🤯

I thought military parades were so 19th century… 🤷‍♀️

Appeals Court Rules Against Many Trump Tariffs The decision is a big blow to President Trump’s trade policies, but the judges left the duties in place for now to allow time for a likely appeal to the Supreme Court.

Breaking News: A federal appeals court ruled that many of President Trump’s most punishing tariffs are illegal. But the judges delayed the implementation of their order until October to grant the administration time to seek review by the Supreme Court.