Our mission

The National Board of Trade is a 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 well as free movement in the EU internal market.

We provide the Swedish Government with independent analysis, reports and policy recommendations as well as advice and take into account the views of businesses of all sizes in international trade policy-related matters. We also participate in international meetings and negotiations.

Our goal is a well functioning internal market, an external EU trade policy based on free trade and an open and strong multilateral trading system – all with regard to sustainable development.

What we do

The EU internal market

• Examines and seeks to impact proposals for new legislation from Sweden and other member states in order to prevent trade barriers within the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
• Works actively to ensure a properly functioning internal market with free movement of goods, services, capital and persons.
• Assists companies with information on Swedish regulations relating to goods and services.
• Via SOLVIT, helps businesses and citizens encountering obstacles to free movement due to other member states not complying with EU law.

Trade barriers

• Works to reduce the prevalence of trade barriers and to prevent new trade barriers from arising. This also encompasses countries outside the EU.
• Identifies trade barriers that affect Swedish commercial interests.
• Reviews and seeks to influence the drafting of national technical rules in relation to WTO rules.
• Simplifies trade procedures, in collaboration with the Swedish Trade Procedures Council (SWEPRO).
• Promotes an increased level of transparency in EU standardisation policy, as well as enhanced cooperation between public authorities and standards developing organisations, with Swedish interests in focus.

EU trade policy

• Brings forth background facts and analysis for trade policy that are used by the Swedish government for the purpose of influencing the EU trade policy.
• Provides information on free trade agreements between the EU and non-EU countries.
• Is responsible for parts of the Swedish compliance with the EU common trade policy, for instance, anti-dumping cases and import licences.
• Engages in efforts to achieve an open and strong multilateral trading system, raises awareness about WTO regulations and analyses the progress of ongoing negotiations.

Trade and policy developments

• Analyses the development of international trade and the changing patterns of trade.
• Compiles and analyses trade statistics on a regular basis.
• Analyses how international trade can contribute to social, economic and environmentally secure sustainable development.

Development cooperation

• Contributes to the developing countries’ integration into global trade by strengthening their capacity.
• Offers civil servants and institutions in developing countries assistance in their efforts to improve skills and capacity-building.
• Via Open Trade Gate Sweden, responds to queries from developing countries about rules applicable to exports into Sweden and the EU.

What is a Swedish government agency?

The Swedish Government consists of a prime minister and 22 ministers. Each ministry is responsible for a number of government agencies tasked with applying the laws and carrying out the activities decided on by the Riksdag and the Government.

The National Board of Trade answers to The Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which is responsible for Sweden’s relations with other countries and international organisations. It is also responsible for development cooperation policy and international trade policy.