What role should voters play in decisions about major trade deals?

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As part of the democracy team, I report on the dynamic relationship between citizens and their institutions in Switzerland and abroad. Born in Ireland, I have a BA in European Studies and MA in International Relations. I've been at SWI swissinfo.ch since 2017.

In Switzerland, voters can have a say over the final ratification of big international trade agreements, if a referendum is forced.

Have you had experience with voting on such an issue? What do you think – does popular input boost the legitimacy of such deals, or are trade issues best left to the specialists? Let us know below.

Trade policy

Could direct democracy trip up Swiss trade deals?

This content was published on Feb 20, 2026 As global trade rules fray, countries are scrambling to shore up export markets and diversify partners. For Switzerland, this could come with an added complication: the ballot box.

What role should voters play in decisions about major trade deals?

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Could direct democracy trip up Swiss trade deals?

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