Mona Paulsen
@monapaulsen.bsky.social
Assistant Professor in International Economic Law, LSE Law School. Specialisation in international trade law and economic security, in addition to research and teaching interests in international investment law, international development, and IPE.
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Mona Paulsen
@monapaulsen.bsky.social
· Aug 12
Happy to share my publication, The Past, Present, and Potential of Economic Security, in 50 Yale Journal of International Law 222 (Summer 2025), now available on Hein Online (DM if you cannot access through your local libraries). My thanks to the student editors who worked hard on this publication.
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
Trump: "We're going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure and start making money for the country. And we are ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so."
January 3, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Trump: "We're going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure and start making money for the country. And we are ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so."
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
Chairman JCOS: “Months of planning…”
soooo not an imminent threat justifying self-defense
soooo not an imminent threat justifying self-defense
January 3, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Chairman JCOS: “Months of planning…”
soooo not an imminent threat justifying self-defense
soooo not an imminent threat justifying self-defense
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
I am wondering if this statement that the US will be running Venezuela is news to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the nation's top diplomat and acting head of the defunct USAID, which he might want to have around if this is the case.
"We're there now," Trump says of Venezuela, insisting the U.S. will run the country.
Who is "we"? Does the U.S. have military forces in the Miraflores Palace or elsewhere in Venezuela? How many? Are we saying Vice President Delcy Rodríguez isn't de facto in control?
Huge, huge open questions.
Who is "we"? Does the U.S. have military forces in the Miraflores Palace or elsewhere in Venezuela? How many? Are we saying Vice President Delcy Rodríguez isn't de facto in control?
Huge, huge open questions.
January 3, 2026 at 5:03 PM
I am wondering if this statement that the US will be running Venezuela is news to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the nation's top diplomat and acting head of the defunct USAID, which he might want to have around if this is the case.
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
Trump just said the United States is "going to run" Venezuela until there's a transition of power — raising immediate questions as to whether he will order U.S. military deployments.
January 3, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Trump just said the United States is "going to run" Venezuela until there's a transition of power — raising immediate questions as to whether he will order U.S. military deployments.
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
Veteran New York Times national security reporter David Sanger says what Trump is describing in Venezuela is an "American occupation."
January 3, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Veteran New York Times national security reporter David Sanger says what Trump is describing in Venezuela is an "American occupation."
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
"Mexico strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally ... by armed forces of the United States of America against targets in the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the [UN] Charter"
www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/m...
www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/m...
January 3, 2026 at 12:41 PM
"Mexico strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally ... by armed forces of the United States of America against targets in the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the [UN] Charter"
www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/m...
www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/m...
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
If this is true, the closest comparison for the Venezuela operation isn't Iraq but Panama. In both cases, the invasion was portrayed as a police action to capture a head of state to stand trial in the US for drug trafficking...
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was arrested to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States and no further military action is expected, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Senator Mike Lee.
January 3, 2026 at 11:39 AM
If this is true, the closest comparison for the Venezuela operation isn't Iraq but Panama. In both cases, the invasion was portrayed as a police action to capture a head of state to stand trial in the US for drug trafficking...
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
I fear we are going to have to say this a lot again:
Int law prohibits bombing countries for the sake of democracy. FOR VERY GOOD REASON. It tends not to work.
Attacking a country because its leader lacks legitimacy - whether as pretext or sincerely held rationale - is still just an aggression.
Int law prohibits bombing countries for the sake of democracy. FOR VERY GOOD REASON. It tends not to work.
Attacking a country because its leader lacks legitimacy - whether as pretext or sincerely held rationale - is still just an aggression.
Remember that there is a legitimately elected president of Venezuela: Edmundo Gonzalez. He won the election in 2024.
January 3, 2026 at 11:55 AM
I fear we are going to have to say this a lot again:
Int law prohibits bombing countries for the sake of democracy. FOR VERY GOOD REASON. It tends not to work.
Attacking a country because its leader lacks legitimacy - whether as pretext or sincerely held rationale - is still just an aggression.
Int law prohibits bombing countries for the sake of democracy. FOR VERY GOOD REASON. It tends not to work.
Attacking a country because its leader lacks legitimacy - whether as pretext or sincerely held rationale - is still just an aggression.
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
Sen Mike Lee with the first account I’ve seen of the Admin’s legal theory for the strikes. On the domestic law side — something like: Art II law enforcement power to capture Maduro (by invading his own country) combined with Art II power to protect those personnel executing the warrant.
January 3, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Sen Mike Lee with the first account I’ve seen of the Admin’s legal theory for the strikes. On the domestic law side — something like: Art II law enforcement power to capture Maduro (by invading his own country) combined with Art II power to protect those personnel executing the warrant.
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
Questions about the Trump Administration's Trade Deals and Compatibility with WTO Obligations
Questions about the Trump Administration's Trade Deals and Compatibility with WTO Obligations
An issue that has been raised in relation to the Trump administration's various trade deals is whether they are compatible with WTO obligations. GATT Article XXIV, along with the Uruguay Round Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XXIV, sets out specific conditions that bilateral/regional deals on trade
dlvr.it
January 2, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Questions about the Trump Administration's Trade Deals and Compatibility with WTO Obligations
-1 and Londoners are done with cold.
a man standing next to a woman with the words i grew up in canada
ALT: a man standing next to a woman with the words i grew up in canada
media.tenor.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:14 PM
-1 and Londoners are done with cold.
What can we make of this move? Doubtful POTUS was cautioned about the bogus security justification for supporting specific furniture businesses. There's no limit to the use of section 232 authority, so no worries about that either.
Impact USMCA negotiations? Possible.
Firms complained? Possible.
Impact USMCA negotiations? Possible.
Firms complained? Possible.
President Donald Trump has delayed new tariff increases on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities for a year, pushing their implementation to 2027, according to a White House statement. https://cnn.it/4pnxcQT
January 1, 2026 at 3:19 PM
What can we make of this move? Doubtful POTUS was cautioned about the bogus security justification for supporting specific furniture businesses. There's no limit to the use of section 232 authority, so no worries about that either.
Impact USMCA negotiations? Possible.
Firms complained? Possible.
Impact USMCA negotiations? Possible.
Firms complained? Possible.
Good morning all, interesting report from Roberts’ letter to the judiciary, reading between the lines I’d say further confirmation that IEEPA tariffs are unlikely to stick, not that it seems to matter. At least 1/4 of the threats taken by the POTUS by social media are never followed through.
Chief Justice John Roberts says the Constitution remains "firm and unshaken" with major Supreme Court rulings ahead.
Chief Justice says Constitution remains 'firm and unshaken' with major Supreme Court rulings ahead
Chief Justice John Roberts says that the Constitution remains a sturdy pillar for the country, a message that comes after a tumultuous year in the nation’s judicial system with pivotal Supreme Court decisions on the horizon.
bit.ly
January 1, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Good morning all, interesting report from Roberts’ letter to the judiciary, reading between the lines I’d say further confirmation that IEEPA tariffs are unlikely to stick, not that it seems to matter. At least 1/4 of the threats taken by the POTUS by social media are never followed through.
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
Mexico to hike tariffs on China starting Thursday reut.rs/4bdsXnl
Mexico to hike tariffs on China starting Thursday
Mexico's sweeping new tariffs on imports from mostly Asian countries are set to take effect on Thursday, in a move that will largely align Mexico with the U.S. as the neighboring countries place significant barriers on Chinese imports.
reut.rs
December 30, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Mexico to hike tariffs on China starting Thursday reut.rs/4bdsXnl
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
If you were thinking of pre-ordering our book How To Win A Trade War, then today is a VERY good day to do it (in the US), because
Barnes & Noble Premium & Rewards Members get 25% off pre-orders
Dec 30-Jan 1 only
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-win...
Barnes & Noble Premium & Rewards Members get 25% off pre-orders
Dec 30-Jan 1 only
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-win...
December 30, 2025 at 3:45 PM
If you were thinking of pre-ordering our book How To Win A Trade War, then today is a VERY good day to do it (in the US), because
Barnes & Noble Premium & Rewards Members get 25% off pre-orders
Dec 30-Jan 1 only
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-win...
Barnes & Noble Premium & Rewards Members get 25% off pre-orders
Dec 30-Jan 1 only
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-win...
The watchmakers could simply assert that telling time is a matter of national security, given that inputs such as steel, aluminium, titanium, silver, gold, carbon, nylon, and rubber are all so-called strategic materials.
Can see the fallacy of identifying something as strategic, up and downstream.
Can see the fallacy of identifying something as strategic, up and downstream.
The Swatch Group is credited with saving the Swiss watch industry in the 1980s. But right now the company is under pressure, hit by a spending slowdown in China and steep tariffs in the US. Can the watchmaker turn its fortunes around? (from the archive)
Is Time Running Out on Swatch?
The Swatch Group is credited with saving the Swiss watch industry in the 1980s. But right now the company is under pressure, hit by a spending slowdown in China and steep tariffs in the US. Can the watchmaker turn its fortunes around?
(Source: Bloomberg)
bloom.bg
December 30, 2025 at 4:03 PM
The watchmakers could simply assert that telling time is a matter of national security, given that inputs such as steel, aluminium, titanium, silver, gold, carbon, nylon, and rubber are all so-called strategic materials.
Can see the fallacy of identifying something as strategic, up and downstream.
Can see the fallacy of identifying something as strategic, up and downstream.
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
Among our most-read articles of 2025 #BestOf2025
Perspectives: Sleepwalking is not a trade policy
#EUTrade #TrumpTrade
By our columnist @davidheniguk.bsky.social
Perspectives: Sleepwalking is not a trade policy
#EUTrade #TrumpTrade
By our columnist @davidheniguk.bsky.social
Perspectives: Sleepwalking is not a trade policy - Borderlex - European trade policy
The EU’s decision-making structures in trade policy are inadequate for the EU to tackle the existential challenge posed to it. Member states need to talk more outside the usual channels in Brussels to steer a European Commission hobbled by competing demands.
f.mtr.cool
December 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Among our most-read articles of 2025 #BestOf2025
Perspectives: Sleepwalking is not a trade policy
#EUTrade #TrumpTrade
By our columnist @davidheniguk.bsky.social
Perspectives: Sleepwalking is not a trade policy
#EUTrade #TrumpTrade
By our columnist @davidheniguk.bsky.social
When your child looks at last year's present from Santa and asks why it says, "Made in China."
I knew the rules of origin would bite back at some point.
I knew the rules of origin would bite back at some point.
December 18, 2025 at 1:52 PM
When your child looks at last year's present from Santa and asks why it says, "Made in China."
I knew the rules of origin would bite back at some point.
I knew the rules of origin would bite back at some point.
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
Some Thoughts on Addressing Non-Market Policies and Practices through WTO Disputes
Some Thoughts on Addressing Non-Market Policies and Practices through WTO Disputes
Earlier this week, the U.S. submitted a communication to the WTO entitled "On WTO Reform." There are a number of issues worth talking about in the document, but I want to highlight the sub-section on "Overcapacity and Overconcentration of Production," which falls in a section
dlvr.it
December 17, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Some Thoughts on Addressing Non-Market Policies and Practices through WTO Disputes
Redefining a national health issue into an emergency in international relations shifts agency oversight. Mauroni: "There’s no question that the number of deaths caused by fentanyl overdoses is a national tragedy. It is, however, not one caused by a weapon of war" mwi.westpoint.edu/fentanyl-sho...
Fentanyl Should Not Be Designated as a WMD. Period. - Modern War Institute
The doctor had just completed his rounds at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg. He was visibly upset, causing a colleague to ask him what was wrong. “We’re out of fentanyl lollipops and fentanyl...
mwi.westpoint.edu
December 17, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Redefining a national health issue into an emergency in international relations shifts agency oversight. Mauroni: "There’s no question that the number of deaths caused by fentanyl overdoses is a national tragedy. It is, however, not one caused by a weapon of war" mwi.westpoint.edu/fentanyl-sho...
Reposted by Mona Paulsen
It is the brazen threats which announce such obvious breaches of international law which is so galling. The USTR wins today - directly threatening EU companies is certainly a new low. Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Twitter, Netflix, Disney and all others should start to worry about a new service trade war.
December 16, 2025 at 10:40 PM
It is the brazen threats which announce such obvious breaches of international law which is so galling. The USTR wins today - directly threatening EU companies is certainly a new low. Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Twitter, Netflix, Disney and all others should start to worry about a new service trade war.
POTUS designated illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as Weapons of Mass Destruction. Legality should be irrelevant if the focus is on chemicals as constituting major risks to international peace.
States designate WMD to justify maximum measures ex ante ... not ex post.
States designate WMD to justify maximum measures ex ante ... not ex post.
a bald man with glasses says you sure
ALT: a bald man with glasses says you sure
media.tenor.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:17 AM
POTUS designated illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as Weapons of Mass Destruction. Legality should be irrelevant if the focus is on chemicals as constituting major risks to international peace.
States designate WMD to justify maximum measures ex ante ... not ex post.
States designate WMD to justify maximum measures ex ante ... not ex post.
