Publications

The UK policy paper on the future relationship with the EU

Published: 2018

In July 2018, the UK government published a policy paper with proposals for what the future relationship between the UK and the EU should look like. The policy paper should be seen as the UK’s opening bid for negotiations on the future relationship.

Brexit and financial services – a summary

Published: 2018

Brexit will affect Swedish financial services suppliers. Potentially, the up-coming negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom (UK) can soften any potential negative impact. The aim of this report is to identify the trade model that best minimizes these negative effects.

Economic integration works

Published: 2018

This report shows that regional trade agreements stimulate trade effectively. Customs unions and other deep integration agreements have the strongest trade effects.

The Cyber Effect

Published: 2018

This report describes the function of IT security and defines by which means IT security in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products can be regulated. It also highlights in which manner the regulation of IT security has a bearing on international trade and market access.

After Brexit – recommendations for Swedish priorities in upcoming negotiations

Published: 2018

The purpose of this analysis is to identify what is most important for Sweden in a future EU-UK agreement, in order to mitigate the negative effects of Brexit. The key sectors proposed as Swedish priorities will need to be particularly important for Sweden's trade with the UK and sectors in which Brexit might lead to...

The Use of the EU’s Free Trade Agreements

Published: 2018

This report gives an analysis of the use of tariff preferences in free trade agreements from both parties and from both an exporter and importer perspective.

Possible tools for strengthened implementation of sustainable development provisions in FTA´s

Published: 2017

This analysis proposes a range of practical and easily applicable mechanisms which can be included in EU FTAs with an aim of strengthening the implementation of sustainability provisions, and responding to some of the criticism expressed in the course of the TSD implementation debate.

Europe fettered - the impact of crisis-era trade distortions

Published: 2017

Has Swedish exports of goods been held back due to trade barriers introduced since the financial crisis? According to this report, the answer is yes in relation to China but no in relation to the United States and Japan. Trade within the EU does not seem to have been affected much by trade barriers or trade...

Enhancing TBT Capacity through Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance

Published: 2017

In this report, the National Board of Trade Sweden evaluates its TBT-related development cooperation activities for the last ten years. The evaluation maps out both pitfalls and success factors in developing effective and sustainable TBT capacity building.

Trade and social sustainability – an overview and analysis

Published: 2017

The main focus of this report is the links between trade and the social dimension of sustainable development.

Summary of the analysis of CETA

Published: 2017

Summary of the analysis of CETA The analysis covers certain parts of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada. The analysis covers the provisions on investment protection including the ICS (Investment Court System), public procurement, environmental and health related...

New Trade Facilitation obligations in the SPS area

Published: 2017

In this report, the National Board of Trade analyses how the new trade facilitation agreement affects WTO trade law in the sanitary and phytosanitary field.

Brexit - options for a future regulatory framework

Published: 2017

An analysis of alternatives for how trade in services between the EU and the UK can be regulated after a UK withdrawal from the EU and its single market.

Case story: Direct imports of Ethiopian roses to Sweden

Published: 2017

This case story describes how Swedish authorities worked with a specific case in which a small company experienced difficulties in direct imports of cut flowers from Ethiopia to Sweden. It describes the dialogue between authorities and between authorities and actors from the private sector, and how a mapping exercise...

Data flows – a fifth freedom for the internal market?

Published: 2016

The internal market is based on the freedoms of movement of goods, services, persons and capital. These four freedoms were introduced in the Treaty of Rome some 60 years ago, long before the emergence of the digital economy. Today our societies are increasingly dependent on the processing and transfer of data.

In Quest of Compliance – Promoting effective enforcement of the EU Single Market

Published: 2016

The EU Member States do not fully comply with the Single market’s rules and principles and this undermines the credibility and effectiveness of the EU. This creates significant problems for citizens and companies and prevents the Single Market from fully delivering projected benefits.

The Servicification of EU Manufacturing

Published: 2016

Servicification means that manufacturing activities and competitiveness increasingly depend on services. Yet, there are still many remaining barriers to the free movement of services within and outside the EU. Is the manufacturing industry’s increasing use of services a possibility to build competitiveness in the EU...

Protectionism in the 21th century

Published: 2016

The purpose of this report is to synthesize efforts to monitor protectionism in the 21st century.

Moving to Sweden – obstacles to the Free Movement of EU Citizens

Published: 2014

This report focuses on the situation of EU citizens who want to move and work in Sweden. While in many ways, it is easy to live in Sweden as an EU citizen, obstacles still remain that need to be overcome.