National Board of Trade proposes priorities for the EU's future trade policy
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About trade
Published: 06 Nov 2020
Fight protectionism, exercise global leadership, support sustainable development, promote digitalisation and liberalise trade in services. These are the most important tasks for the EU's future trade policy according to the National Board of Trade Sweden.
The National Board of Trade, an independent Swedish government agency, today publishes proposals for the EU's future trade policy. The proposals are made in the context of the current review of EU trade policy.
– Our proposals are based on important issues for the future and are in line with broader EU policy priorities: the transition to a fossil-neutral society, digitalisation and increased competitiveness, says Anders Ahnlid, Director-General of the National Board of Trade.
He believes that the EU needs to not only pursue but also lead global trade policy, as there are currently deadlocks due to lack of commitment in other countries and trade conflicts.
– The EU has to shoulder the leading role in global trade policy by establishing long-term alliances with like-minded countries, both in its neighbourhood and globally. It is also important that it is formalised as far as possible in broader partnerships. To do this, the EU should deepen and diversify its network of free trade agreements with the ultimate purpose of creating stepping stones for multilateral trade liberalisation. For instance, efforts to link up the EU with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) should be made.