Publications
Trade policy and internal market analyses by the National Board of Trade, Sweden, are listed here. You are welcome to download them free of charge. If you are looking for a specific topic, use Search at the top of this page, then filter on Publications.
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The Swedish market for medtech
Published: 2025
The Swedish medtech market is increasingly being shaped by the digital transformation, including telemedicine, remote diagnostics, AI-driven tools, and interoperable patient data platforms. This market study offers a comprehensive guide for companies that are interested in entering the Swedish market for medtech...
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Common Specifications: Fallback or challenge for harmonised standards within the EU?
Published: 2025
European harmonised standards have long been the primary tool businesses use to demonstrate compliance with EU product legislation, supporting innovation, legal certainty and competitiveness. However, delays in their availability have created challenges, leaving companies facing uncertainty and higher compliance costs.
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LDC Graduation: Challenges and opportunities for EU–African trade
Published: 2025
An increasing number of African countries are preparing to leave the UN’s category of least developed countries (LDCs). This analysis focuses on how that changes the conditions for trade. New opportunities may arise – both for countries that graduate and for those that remain in the LDC group.
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Rethinking Trade with Asia
Published: 2025
Asia’s emerging markets show strong economic growth, increasing in importance for Sweden and the EU. The report highlights the role of free trade agreements and examines how Sweden and the EU can balance economic opportunities with geopolitical realities in Asia.
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A New Trade Policy Era – the need for a rule-based trade coalition
Published: 2025
In an analysis, the National Board of Trade Sweden proposes that the new era created in the international trade structure means that the EU should build new support frameworks together with like-minded partners to revitalise a rule-based trading system.
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The Swedish market for cybersecurity
Published: 2025
This study focuses on cybersecurity services and aims to offer valuable insights and support actionable strategies for service providers seeking to establish a presence in Sweden. It outlines key market trends, details regulatory and technical requirements, and provides guidance for identifying and securing business...
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Analysis: The EU’s Free Trade Agreements – a tool to enhance crisis preparedness
Published: 2025
Free trade agreements (FTAs) have untapped potential to strengthen the EU’s crisis preparedness. Recent global shocks – such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – have exposed vulnerabilities in the EU’s supply chains. This analysis explores how FTAs can help keep trade flowing during...
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The Swedish market for processed food
Published: 2025 (new edition)
Sweden imported approximately SEK 225.3 billion worth of agricultural and food products in 2024. This market study offers insights and supports actionable strategies for exporters of processed foods to establish a foothold in Sweden. It presents an overview of the current situation in the Swedish market, how Swedish...
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Uncertainty in Standardisation
Published: 2025
The EU’s system for product rules depends on harmonised standards. But a recent court ruling has created legal uncertainty about public access and copyright. This puts the current model for developing standards at risk – and with it, the EU’s ability to support safe, green, and digital products across the internal...
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Trade Policy for Electrification
Published: 2025
Electrification is a key strategy for achieving Sweden’s climate goals, driving competitiveness, and reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels. Replacing fossil fuel driven technologies and processes in transport and industry with electrified alternatives is expected to lead to a large increase in electricity use,...
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The Impact of Foreign Acquisitions on Swedish Firms’ Carbon Emissions and Energy Use
Published: 2025
Swedish firms have lower carbon and energy intensities in their production after foreign acquisition, according to this report from the National Board of Trade Sweden. This finding is stronger for more carbon- and energy-intensive firms. With this in mind, there is hardly ground for environmental considerations to be...
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Tariffs do not Improve the Trade Balance
Published: 2025
A central premise of US trade policy under the Trump administration is the idea that higher tariffs reduce the trade deficit. At first glance, this may seem logical. However, there is no correlation between high tariffs and a positive trade balance. In fact, a policy mix that includes higher tariffs is more likely to...
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The GDPR and International Trade
Published: 2025
Data regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) can strengthen global data privacy standards and increase trust, thereby benefiting trade. However, the GDPR has also created regulatory uncertainty, increased compliance costs, and hampered cross-border data flows, which have negatively affected EU...
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The Swedish market for apparel and home textiles
Published: 2025 (new updated edition)
Sweden has a renowned fashion and home textiles industry, fronted by international giants like H&M and IKEA. These are followed by a number of brands (also) operating on an international stage.
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Multinational Firms and Productivity
Published: 2025
In this analysis, the National Board of Trade Sweden has examined what happens to the productivity of Swedish companies that are acquired by foreign firms. Do the effects differ depending on whether the new owners are from Europe, North America, or Asia?
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Navigating Cross-Border Data Flows and the GDPR
Published: 2025
Limiting cross-border data flows can negatively affect economic growth. Businesses face specific challenges with regards to cross-border data transfers. This report analyses these challenges from a trade policy perspective and gives recommendations that could reduce regulatory complexity for international businesses.
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Trade Policy for the Age of AI
Published: 2025
This policy brief examines the role of trade policy in enhancing the European Union’s (EU) competitiveness within an increasingly AI-driven global economy. It argues that achieving competitiveness in the age of AI requires access to essential inputs, including data, computing power, energy, connectivity, capital, and...
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The Swedish market for fresh fruit and vegetables
Published: 2024 (new updated edition)
Sweden relies heavily on fresh fruit and vegetable imports. In 2023, developing countries supplied Sweden with 215 thousand tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables. These primarily consisted of bananas (74 per cent), followed by oranges (6 per cent), apples, mandarins and potatoes (2 per cent each).
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The Swedish market for financial technology
Published: 2024 (new updated edition)
This market study provides a comprehensive guide for companies in developing countries that are interested in entering the Swedish market for financial technology (fintech). It aims to offer valuable insights and support actionable strategies for service providers and product/solution providers looking to establish...
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Mapping trade-related agreements
Published: 2024
This report maps and analyses a certain type of trade cooperation that is taking place outside of formal trade policy. We call this form of cooperation ‘trade-related agreements’ (TRAs), the scope of which differs from previously established terms like ‘mini deals’.