The WTO Appellate Body Crisis

The WTO Appellate Body has not been functioning since the end of 2019. The WTO Members have, however, agreed to have a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system that is accessible to all WTO Members by 2024. An informal process is now underway to restart operations.

Malin Ljungkvist

Zdenka Petrovic

CBAM and Ukraine: Special circumstances call for special measures

In 2023, two of the EU’s top priorities are the implementation of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and continued support for the recovery of Ukraine’s economy. However, it looks as though Ukraine will be among the countries most affected by CBAM. Can support for Ukraine’s recovery co-exist with a carbon price...

Critical minerals – important pieces on the geopolitical chessboard

Countries that control trade in critical raw materials have leverage over import-dependent economies like the EU. It is therefore rightly a priority for the EU to diversify the supply by developing on trading relations with like-minded partners and finding alternative sources of import.

The Swedish market for food ingredients

In this study, you will get to know the Swedish market for food ingredients, such as turmeric, groundnuts, carrageenan, and guar gum.

More needs to be done to increase trade in environmental goods

Many regional trade agreements (RTAs) contain specific environmental goods provisions aimed to promote, facilitate or otherwise support trade in climate- and environmentally friendly goods. However, these agreements do not lead to increased trade in environmental goods.

The Role of Trade in the Green Transition

Trade policy can play a key role in facilitating the green transition. However, trade barriers on environmental goods make the green transition more expensive than necessary. In an attempt to address these barriers, several countries include specific environmental goods provisions in their regional trade agreements.

The need for enhanced EU cooperation with the CPTPP

EU economic integration with like-minded partners in the Asia-Pacific is crucial to diversify trade relations and improve competitiveness. This article presents concrete proposals on how this can be achieved without negotiating entirely new trade agreements.

Press

For press inquiries, contact our press office at press(a)kommerskollegium.se or by phone +46 8 690 49 00. Who we are The National Board of Trade is the Swedish government agency for international trade, the EU internal market and trade policy. Our mission is to facilitate free and open trade with transparent rules as...

Pauline Degerth

Anders Ahnlid heads the EU working group on frozen assets

The Director-General of the National Board of Trade Sweden, Anders Ahnlid, has been appointed by the government to lead a working group that will investigate the possibilities of using frozen Russian for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Digital innovation creates challenges for technical regulation

Digital goods that make use of AI technology and/or which are subject to cyber vulnerabilities increase regulatory complexity, according to a new report.

Innovation, AI, Technical Regulation and Trade

In this report, the National Board of Trade Sweden highlights the challenges that digital innovation creates for technical regulation. The report questions whether artificial intelligence and cyber vulnerabilities are changing the way industrial goods, such as some smartphones, medical devices, and vehicles with...

Six trade policy insights based on modern trade research

21st century trade research has uncovered clear connections between openness to trade and productivity improvements. These insights are crucial for EU priorities related to competitiveness and inclusive economic prosperity.

The New Gains from Trade

This brief introduces the latest generation of trade research. The purpose is to help policymakers formulate an evidence-based trade policy for the future.

See afterwards: EU trade integration with the Asia-Pacific

With WTO negotiations unlikely to advance fast and no trade agreement with the US in sight, the EU must have a plan for deeper economic integration with reliable partners. Should the EU join the CPTPP or is an enhanced trade cooperation between them the better option?

The need for enhanced EU cooperation with the CPTPP

EU economic integration with like-minded partners in the Asia-Pacific is crucial to diversify trade relations and improve competitiveness. This article presents concrete proposals on how this can be achieved without negotiating entirely new trade agreements.

Trade in used lithium-ion batteries: policy makers could contribute to the green transition

Being able to sell and buy used and recycled batteries is a very important part of the green transition. But today the trade with used batteries is restricted. In a new report, the National Board of Trade Sweden propose how trade policy could facilitate the international trade in used batteries.

Trade rules for a circular economy

Being able to buy and sell used and recycled batteries is vital to the green transition. Batteries are needed for vehicles and for solar parks. In this report, we have examined the challenges posed by regulations on the export and import of used batteries, which are often classified as waste.