Reports

We publish a number of reports in a wide range of trade related issues. The reports can be downloaded free of charge.

• 

  Circular Economy Product Labels

  Published: 2023

  Products on the European market are subject to multiple labelling requirements relating to the circular economy. Companies that want to sell their products in Europe must adapt to these requirements, in both national regulations and EU law. In this study, the National Board of Trade maps out these requirements and...

• 

  The E-Commerce Negotiations in the WTO: Understanding non-participation

  Published: 2023

  Several WTO members are negotiating the first true comprehensive legal framework for e-commerce. However, very few African countries are involved. This report examines why and suggests actions to convince more countries to participate. Emma Sävenborg, the author of the report, explains.

• 

  Do Provisions in Free Trade Agreements Diversify Trade?

  Published: 2023

  Do free trade agreements (FTAs) lead to more diversified trade? It depends on which partner you look at and how ambitious the agreement is. This PM is a first step in understanding whether free trade agreements lead to more diversified world trade.

• 

  Government subsidies in manufacturing sectors

  Published: 2023

  For a constructive debate on subsidies, reliable and internationally comparable information regarding what and how much each party spends on government subsidies is crucial. However, there is a lack of data on subsidies in the manufacturing sector. As a result, there is little empirical evidence on the relationship...

• 

  The importance of imports for productivity and exports

  Published: 2023

  Despite the close link between imports and exports, most of the analysis and policy discussions have traditionally focused on how to strengthen exports, without further consideration of the potential for imports. Against this background, this paper aims to highlight the link between imports, productivity and exports.

• 

  Productivity Effects of Foreign Acquisitions in Sweden: A sectoral analysis

  Published: 2023

  Companies that are bought up by foreign owners increase their productivity. The greatest increase in productivity is seen in very small companies in the service sector. This is shown by an economic analysis carried out by Kommerskollegium before Sweden introduces a mechanism to review foreign direct investments.

• 

  The WTO Appellate Body Crisis

  Published: 2023

  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.

• 

  The Role of Trade in the Green Transition

  Published: 2023

  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.

• 

  Innovation, AI, Technical Regulation and Trade

  Published: 2023

  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...

• 

  The New Gains from Trade

  Published: 2023

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

• 

  Trade rules for a circular economy

  Published: 2023

  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.

• How can SOLVIT further enhance compliance with EU law

  Published: 2022

  The SOLVIT network has been given new tasks, regulated by existing or new binding legal acts from the EU. The network has also been linked more closely to the EU Commission's compliance work. There is a need to further develop SOLVIT and in this report we discuss how SOLVIT's legal basis could be changed.

• 

  Green Services in the Single Market

  Published: 2022

  Trade in services is key in achieving the green transition. This report shows the role of services, and how they can contribute, with focus on the EU. However, there are barriers to trade in these services, barriers that the EU and the Member States should try to eliminate.

• 

  Perspectives on the Economic Effects of FDI and Investment Screening

  Published: 2022

  Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a key driver of economic growth and welfare. This analysis discusses how security and economic concerns should be balanced when deciding on a foreign direct investment screening mechanism.

• 

  An All-Star Approach to Regulatory Cooperation in the Area of Technical Barriers to Trade

  Published: 2022

  In this report by the National Board of Trade Sweden, we identify best practices for international regulatory cooperation to address technical barriers to trade (TBTs) and highlight how they can promote sustainability objectives. Linda Bodén, one of the authors of the report, tells more.

• 

  Lessons from the pandemic – Designing a Single Market crisis management mechanism

  Published: 2022

  Despite being heavily tested during the COVID pandemic, the Single Market proved to be resilient. But even more can be done to strengthen the Single Market in times of crisis.

• Supporting the Green Transition through Regulatory Cooperation

  Published: 2022

  In this analysis, the National Board of Trade Sweden investigates the potential for enhanced transatlantic regulatory cooperation to support the green transition within the framework of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC).

• The EU Proposal for an Anti-Coercion Instrument

  Published: 2022

  The purpose of this memo is to get a better understanding of the EU proposal on anti-coercion. The National Board of Trade points out some of the most immediate challenges and gives recommendations on how to minimise the proposal’s negative effects for international trade and trade policy.

• 

  The Economics of the EU’s Trade Defence Instruments – Winners and losers of anti-dumping policies

  Published: 2022

  EU producers do not benefit from EU anti-dumping measures. There are no signs of regained market shares or that EU firms are able to raise prices on targeted goods. This is shown by a new analysis from the National Board of Trade, Sweden.

• A single market ombudsman in every EU state

  Published: 2022

  Since its inception, some thirty years ago, the Single Market has been affected by a huge compliance deficit. The cost of non-compliance for goods and services alone is today 700 billion euros.