News from the National Board of Trade
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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.
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Free Trade Agreement more than doubles trade between the EU and Ukraine
Import & export
About trade
Published: 19 Jun 2024
In a new analysis, the National Board of Trade Sweden evaluates the effects of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) between the EU and Ukraine, showing that the agreement has resulted in their trade doubling.
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Potential trade challenges arising from recent EU regulations
Import & export
Published: 29 May 2024
There is a risk that the cumulative effects of the many new regulations introduced by the European Union will have undesirable consequences for trade with and investment by countries outside the EU. This is the finding of a new report from the National Board of Trade Sweden, which also contains a number of...
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How energy costs affect firms´ decisions
Import & export
About trade
Published: 06 May 2024
What decisions do firms take in fluctuating energy costs situations? Data shows that higher energy costs are associated with lower exports. However, exporting firms are better able to adjust product prices, than non-trading firms, according to a new analysis.
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Trade policy can be used to a greater extent to strengthen the EU’s resilience and security
Import & export
About trade
Published: 23 Apr 2024
The new European Commission must use trade as a tool to strengthen the EU’s resilience and security. The Commission should also strive to reach an agreement in the WTO to prohibit fossil fuel subsidies. These are some of the recommendations of the National Board of Trade Sweden to the new European Commission.
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Ukraine and Moldova: The Path to the EU
EU rights
Import & export
Published: 11 Apr 2024
How does the EU single market work and how does the EU deal with trade issues? These are key questions for 18 civil servants from Ukraine and Moldova taking part in a specially adapted training course at the National Board of Trade Sweden this week.
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Regulatory cooperation important for a circular economy
EU rights
Import & export
Published: 08 Apr 2024
The shift to a circular economy requires new regulations. So, how should regulators approach the development of such regulations? According to a new report from the National Board of Trade (Kommerskollegium), regulatory cooperation on standards and definitions is one important factor.
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The use of rules of origin in free trade agreements
Import & export
About trade
Published: 25 Mar 2024
When the National Board of Trade for the first time analysed how rules of origin are used in free trade agreements (FTAs), the authors of the report were surprised by the results. Instead of finding a pattern, they found variation.
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Trade policy for a more effective nuclear power sector
Import & export
About trade
Published: 13 Mar 2024
How could trade policy contribute to the nuclear power sector? Several things can be done to facilitate international trade to improve efficiency, reduce costs and promote innovation in the nuclear sector.
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It is time to expand the WTO's Information Technology Agreement
Import & export
Published: 29 Feb 2024
The Information Technology Agreement (ITA) is one of the WTO's most successful agreements and has led to the elimination of tariffs for many products. However, even more goods could be included in the ITA, which has been shown in a new report by the National Board of Trade Sweden.
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More clarity needed on EU legislation for the digital economy
About trade
Published: 12 Feb 2024
The rapid pace of digital development makes it difficult for legislation to keep up. The risk is, for example, that several legislative acts may overlap and that companies will not have a clear understanding of what requirements are imposed on them.
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Electronic transmissions risk facing tariffs
Import & export
About trade
Published: 07 Feb 2024
Presently, electronic transmissions can flow freely across borders without tariffs, thanks to the WTO e-commerce Moratorium. However, this may change, potentially causing significant effects on trade.