News from the National Board of Trade
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Common Specifications – fallback or challenge for harmonised standards within the EU?
EU rights
About trade
Published: 29 Sep 2025
Harmonised standards have long been the primary tool for businesses to demonstrate compliance with EU product legislation. They play a crucial role in fostering innovation, strengthening legal certainty and enhancing competitiveness, while ensuring a well-functioning single market.
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African countries leaving LDC status – new trade conditions
About trade
Published: 25 Sep 2025
Several African countries are preparing to leave the UN’s category of least developed countries (LDCs). This is a positive step, but it also means that key trade preferences will gradually disappear.
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Asia’s emerging markets grow in importance for Sweden and the EU
Import & export
About trade
Published: 24 Sep 2025
As the global economy evolves, Asia’s emerging markets are taking on an increasingly important role. Their strong economic development creates both opportunities and challenges for trade relations with Sweden and the EU.
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The EU should form a new rule-based trade coalition
About trade
Published: 18 Aug 2025
In an analysis, the National Board of Trade Sweden proposes that the EU establish a new trade coalition together with like-minded countries in order to revitalise the rule-based trading system.
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Strengthened free trade agreements can improve the EU’s crisis preparedness
About trade
Published: 01 Jul 2025
Free trade agreements (FTAs) can play a crucial role in helping the EU to respond in times of crisis. By including mechanisms such as early warning systems or joint monitoring of supply chains for essential goods and services, FTAs can help keep trade flowing during disruptions.
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Trade policy for a new era – join the 2025 Heckscher-Ohlin Conference in Stockholm
About trade
Published: 30 Jun 2025
How can research better support evidence-based trade policy? On 16 October 2025, leading international researchers and policymakers will explore this question in Stockholm at this year’s edition of the Heckscher-Ohlin Conference.
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Uncertainty in EU standardisation threatens product legislation
EU rights
Published: 07 May 2025
A recent EU court ruling on public access to standards has raised concerns about the future of the EU’s product regulation framework. A new policy brief warns that legal uncertainty could undermine both sustainability efforts and the internal market.
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Trade policy can accelerate electrification
Import & export
About trade
Published: 04 Apr 2025
Electrification of Sweden’s transport and industry sectors is integral to achieving Sweden’s climate goals, strengthening competitiveness and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. A new report from the National Board of Trade examines how trade policy can contribute to electrification.
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Greener production after foreign acquisitions
About trade
Published: 14 Mar 2025
Foreign investments are linked to lower carbon and energy intensities of Swedish firms, facilitating the green transition. This is shown in a new report by the National Board of Trade Sweden.
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Tariffs do not improve trade balance
Import & export
About trade
Published: 10 Mar 2025
A new empirical study shows that higher tariffs are not an effective way to reduce a country's trade deficit.
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A revised GDPR can boost EU’s digital trade and competitiveness
About trade
Published: 04 Mar 2025
The GDPR has set a global benchmark for data privacy, strengthening trust and influencing international regulations. However, it has also introduced regulatory uncertainty, high compliance costs, and barriers to cross-border data flows, which have reduced EU trade and productivity.
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Analysis: Foreign Owners Boost Swedish Productivity
Import & export
About trade
Published: 11 Feb 2025
A new analysis by the Swedish National Board of Trade reveals that productivity in Swedish companies increases after foreign acquisitions—but the effects vary depending on the origin of the new owners.
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Trade policy could ease cross-border data flow conflicts with the GDPR
Import & export
About trade
Published: 03 Feb 2025
Cross-border data flows are an essential part of international trade, but a complex regulatory landscape makes it both expensive and difficult for businesses to move data across borders. However, according to a new report from the National Board of Trade, there are ways to improve the situation for businesses.
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AI could boost EU competitiveness and trade policy can help
About trade
Published: 29 Jan 2025
To remain competitive in the age of AI, the EU must secure better access to key resources such as data, computing power, connectivity, energy, capital and skilled labour. As these inputs are not always available within the EU, international trade plays a key role.
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Trade-related agreements – a complement to formal trade policy?
About trade
Published: 13 Nov 2024
Cooperation outside of formal trade policy is on the rise in trade-related agreements. These agreements are flexible and easier to conclude, but they also come with a set of challenges. In a new analysis, we identify and analyse 114 trade-related agreements.
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An EU-US digital agreement is needed to strengthen economic ties
Import & export
About trade
Published: 14 Oct 2024
In response to rising geopolitical tensions, both the EU and the US are increasingly restricting the cross-border flow of trade and investments. This analysis proposes that the EU should seek a digital agreement with the US.
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Trump’s tariffs would hit EU exports, but US suffers most
Import & export
About trade
Published: 10 Oct 2024
Donald Trump’s proposed tariff increases on imports from China and other countries could have far-reaching consequences for global trade. Both production and exports will be negatively affected, leading to increased costs for businesses and reduced competitiveness.
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EU competitiveness requires trade policy reforms
Import & export
About trade
Published: 07 Oct 2024
A new report, the so-called Draghi report, presents a series of proposals on how the EU can strengthen its competitiveness in a world of major geopolitical changes and rapid global change. The National Board of Trade acknowledges the problem but is at the same time critical of some of the proposals.
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Cloud services boost export opportunities for Swedish companies
Import & export
About trade
Published: 05 Sep 2024
Swedish companies using cloud services tend to be more internationally focused, with smaller firms benefiting the most in terms of exports. The need to reduce trade barriers, particularly between the EU and the US, is also highlighted in a new report.
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New trade agreement for climate change leaves door open for countries to join
Import & export
About trade
Published: 05 Jul 2024
On Tuesday 2 July, Ministers for Trade from New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, Costa Rica and Iceland announced the conclusion of negotiations on an Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), the first such agreement to seriously address climate issues.