2025-02-262024/25:NU13 · p.3NUBusiness & energy
More free trade agreements
More free-trade agreements in EU trade policy
What's at stake: Concerns how actively Sweden and the EU should push for new trade agreements and what environmental, climate and labor-rights requirements should be set in negotiations, which could affect Swedish exporting companies and trading partners.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether parliament should urge the government to work for the EU to actively conclude more free-trade agreements with high standards on the environment, climate and workers' rights, or whether no specific statement on the matter is needed.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions calling for more free-trade agreements and does not consider it necessary for parliament to direct a specific statement to the government on the matter.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 7 (S, C)
The reservation (S, C) wants parliament to declare to the government that the EU should actively work for more free-trade agreements, since such agreements are important for the Swedish labor market and economy, set global standards and strengthen trade. It wants future agreements to safeguard the environment, climate, health, workers' rights and animal welfare, wants non-tariff trade barriers to be countered — especially with more developed countries — and wants ongoing negotiations within the EU and WTO to continue and be concluded.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 7 by S, C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna, LLiberalerna
Ja 188–112Ja 160–140
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Yes | Yes 19/0/0/5 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 3/90/0/13 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/1/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| SFredrik Stenberg (S, Västerbottens län) | Yes — party line: No |
| SHelén Pettersson (S, Västerbottens län) | Yes — party line: No |
| SLena Johansson (S, Västmanlands län) | Yes — party line: No |
| MPLinus Lakso (MP, Södermanlands län) | Abstain — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:2467 by Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist et al. (C) proposal 23, 2024/25:3107 by Morgan Johansson et al. (S) proposal 46 and 2024/25:3136 by Fredrik Olovsson et al. (S) proposal 37.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:2467 av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C) yrkande 23, 2024/25:3107 av Morgan Johansson m.fl. (S) yrkande 46 och 2024/25:3136 av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 37.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 80 proposals on trade policy in motions from the general motion submission period of 2024. The proposals address, among other things, reform of the World Trade Organization, WTO, trade relations with certain countries and regions, and free movement of certain goods and services. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to the policy pursued and that work is already underway on many of the issues covered by the proposals.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants WTO to be reformed to enable a global agreement on reduced tariffs for environmental and climate technology. (S, C) — Reservation 7
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan works against trade agreements that restrict room for democratic decisions and wants Sweden to challenge the EU's supranational treaties and laws when they put capital's interests first.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan works against trade agreements that restrict room for democratic decisions and wants Sweden to challenge the EU's supranational treaties and laws when they put capital's interests first. The EU actively driving further free trade agreements and concluding ongoing WTO negotiations goes in the opposite direction, even though the counter-proposal wants to safeguard environment and labour rights. The plan favors interstate minimum rules over supranational decisions and fairness rather than free trade terms.
Original (Swedish)
Planen arbetar mot handelsavtal som inskränker utrymmet för demokratiska beslut och vill att Sverige utmanar EU:s överstatliga fördrag och lagar när de sätter kapitalets intressen först. Att EU aktivt ska driva fram fler frihandelsavtal och slutföra pågående WTO-förhandlingar går i motsatt riktning, även om motförslaget vill värna miljö och arbetsrätt. Planen förordar mellanstatliga minimiregler framför överstatliga beslut och rättvisa snarare än fria handelsvillkor.
- trade agreements cannot bind democracydecisive»mot handelsavtal som inskränker utrymmet för« (party programme ↗)“against trade agreements that restrict room for”
- challenge EU's supranationality»Vi vill att Sverige utmanar EU:s överstatliga fördrag och lagar« (party programme ↗)“We want Sweden to challenge the EU's supranational treaties and laws”
- fairness before free trade»solidariskt bistånd och rättvisa handelsvillkor.« (party programme ↗)“solidarity development assistance and fair trade terms.”
- interstate minimum rules»en bättre väg att gå än överstatliga beslut.« (party programme ↗)“a better path to take than supranational decisions.”
The plan establishes that the EU needs to conclude more trade agreements, with values about social dialogue, human rights and environment as guiding, and that WTO cooperation should be strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the EU needs to conclude more trade agreements, with values about social dialogue, human rights and environment as guiding, and that WTO cooperation should be strengthened. That is exactly what the counter-proposal demands: more agreements that simultaneously protect the environment, health and workers' rights. Trade is according to the plan crucial for a small export-dependent country.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att EU behöver sluta fler handelsavtal, med värderingar om social dialog, mänskliga rättigheter och miljö som vägledande, och att WTO-samarbetet ska stärkas. Det är precis vad motförslaget begär: fler avtal som samtidigt värnar miljö, hälsa och arbetstagares rättigheter. Handeln är enligt planen avgörande för ett litet exportberoende land.
- more value-guided trade agreementsdecisive»EU behöver sluta fler handelsavtal där också våra värderingar om social dialog, mänskliga rättigheter och miljö är vägledande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The EU needs to conclude more trade agreements where our values about social dialogue, human rights and environment are also guiding.”
- open and fair trade»Vi står upp för en öppen, fri och rättvis handel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We stand up for open, free and fair trade.”
- strengthened WTO cooperation»Det globala samarbetet inom WTO ska stärkas, liksom samarbetet med likasinnade länder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Global cooperation within the WTO should be strengthened, as should cooperation with like-minded countries.”
- free trade as an instrument for development»Frihandel är ett av de viktigaste instrumenten för att främja en global ekonomisk« (party programme ↗)“Free trade is one of the most important instruments for promoting global economic”
The plan states that Sweden shall have an economy open towards the outside world and work for free trade on fair terms, that international trade agreements shall include animal welfare issues and that trade barriers against poor countries shall be torn down.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that Sweden shall have an economy open towards the outside world and work for free trade on fair terms, that international trade agreements shall include animal welfare issues and that trade barriers against poor countries shall be torn down. The counter-proposal wants more free trade agreements but at the same time demands that the agreements value environment, climate, health, workers' rights and animal welfare, which is in line with the plan. The plan's demand that member states have the right to proceed with stricter environmental legislation is however a reservation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att Sverige ska ha en ekonomi öppen mot omvärlden och verka för frihandel på rättvisa villkor, att internationella handelsavtal ska inkludera djurskyddsfrågan och att handelshinder mot fattiga länder ska rivas. Motförslaget vill fler frihandelsavtal men kräver samtidigt att avtalen värnar miljö, klimat, hälsa, arbetstagares rättigheter och djurvälfärd, vilket ligger i linje med planen. Planens krav på att medlemsländer får gå före med hårdare miljölagstiftning är dock ett förbehåll.
- free trade on fair termsdecisive»omvärlden och verka för frihandel på rättvisa« (party programme ↗)“the world and work for free trade on fair”
- animal welfare in trade agreements»handelsavtal ska inkludera djurskyddsfrågan för att« (party programme ↗)“trade agreements shall include the animal welfare issue to”
- tear down trade barriers against poor countries»Handelshinder gentemot fattiga länder ska rivas« (party programme ↗)“Trade barriers against poor countries shall be torn down”
- right to proceed with environmental requirements»hårdare lagstiftning till skydd för miljö och hälsa« (party programme ↗)“stricter legislation to protect for environment and health”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto establishes that Sweden cannot manage without free trade, that more markets shall be opened and that stronger requirements on working conditions, environment and climate shall be set in trade agreements.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that Sweden cannot manage without free trade, that more markets shall be opened and that stronger requirements on working conditions, environment and climate shall be set in trade agreements. The party programme condemns tariffs and trade barriers and wants the EU to be sharper on free trade precisely. The counter-proposal's requirements that the EU actively works for more agreements with protection for environment, health and workers' rights, and against non-tariff barriers, are the same line.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att Sverige inte klarar sig utan frihandel, att fler marknader ska öppnas och att hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat ska ställas i handelsavtal. Partiprogrammet fördömer tullar och handelshinder och vill att EU blir vassare på just frihandeln. Motförslagets krav på att EU aktivt verkar för fler avtal med skydd för miljö, hälsa och arbetstagares rättigheter, och mot icke-tariffära hinder, är samma linje.
- more trade agreements with requirementsdecisive»Sverige klarar sig inte utan frihandel. Öppna upp fler marknader för svenska varor och tjänster. Ställ hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden cannot manage without free trade. Open up more markets for Swedish goods and services. Set stronger requirements on working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements.”
- more free trade»Sverige behöver mer frihandel och internationellt samarbete, inte protektionism och stängda gränser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs more free trade and international cooperation, not protectionism and closed borders.”
- away with trade barriers»Tullar och handelshinder begränsar konsumenters och producenters val.« (party programme ↗)“Tariffs and trade barriers limit consumers' and producers' choices.”
- EU sharper on free trade»EU måste bli smalare, men vassare, göra färre saker men göra dem bättre.« (party programme ↗)“The EU must become narrower, but sharper, do fewer things but do them better.”
The election manifesto explicitly requires that Sweden strengthens the EU as a free trade union and works for more free trade agreements with the world, and the party programme that the EU completely abolishes tariffs and other trade barriers.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly requires that Sweden strengthens the EU as a free trade union and works for more free trade agreements with the world, and the party programme that the EU completely abolishes tariffs and other trade barriers. The counter-proposal's requirement that the EU actively pursues more agreements, counteracts non-tariff trade barriers, and completes ongoing negotiations is exactly this. That agreements shall protect environment, climate, and rights aligns with climate aspects being integrated in the EU's trade policy.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver uttryckligen att Sverige stärker EU som frihandelsunion och verkar för fler frihandelsavtal med omvärlden, och partiprogrammet att EU helt avskaffar tullar och andra handelshinder. Motförslagets krav att EU aktivt driver fler avtal, motverkar icke-tariffära handelshinder och slutför pågående förhandlingar är just detta. Att avtalen ska värna miljö, klimat och rättigheter ligger i linje med att klimataspekterna ska integreras i EU:s handelspolitik.
- more free trade agreementsdecisive»verka för fler frihandelsavtal med omvärlden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“work for more free trade agreements with the world”
- abolished trade barriers»EU ska helt avskaffa tullar och andra handelshinder mot omvärlden.« (party programme ↗)“The EU shall completely abolish tariffs and other trade barriers against the world.”
- strong voice for free trade»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihandel, i första hand genom globala avtal men annars genom« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for free trade, primarily through global agreements but otherwise through”
- sustainability in trade agreements»Klimataspekterna ska integreras i EU:s handelspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“Climate aspects shall be integrated into the EU's trade policy.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The party programme establishes that freer world trade with fairer rules is a prerequisite for global inequality to decrease, and requires trade liberalisations for products that poorer countries are best at producing.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that freer world trade with fairer rules is a prerequisite for global inequality to decrease, and requires trade liberalisations for products that poorer countries are best at producing. The EU's task according to the plan is to simplify rules and improve competition and break up closed markets. The counter-proposal's demand that the EU actively works for more free trade agreements, considering environment, health and animal welfare, thus aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att en friare världshandel med rättvisare spelregler är en förutsättning för att de globala klyftorna ska minska, och kräver handelsliberaliseringar för de produkter som fattigare länder är bäst på att producera. EU:s uppgift är enligt planen att förenkla regler och förbättra konkurrensen samt bryta upp slutna marknader. Motförslagets krav på att EU aktivt verkar för fler frihandelsavtal, med hänsyn till miljö, hälsa och djurvälfärd, ligger därmed i linje med planen.
- freer world tradedecisive»En friare världshandel med rättvisare spelregler är en förutsättning för att klyftorna ska kunna minska.« (party programme ↗)“Freer world trade with fairer rules is a prerequisite for inequality to be able to decrease.”
- trade liberalisations for poor countries»Det behövs handelsliberaliseringar för de produkter« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for trade liberalisations for products”
- more open internal market»Det måste ske genom att förenkla regler och förbättra konkurrensen« (party programme ↗)“This must happen by simplifying rules and improving competition”
- animal husbandry and environment in trade»för biologisk mångfald, god djurhållning och livsmedel« (party programme ↗)“for biological diversity, good animal husbandry and food”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan makes trade one of the EU cooperation's core tasks, wants to deepen the internal market and sees the state's role as facilitating trade and internationalization.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes trade one of the EU cooperation's core tasks, wants to deepen the internal market and sees the state's role as facilitating trade and internationalization. That the EU actively works for more free trade agreements and that non-tariff trade barriers are countered lies directly in that line. The plan does not mention individual negotiations, hence inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör handeln till en av EU-samarbetets kärnuppgifter, vill fördjupa den inre marknaden och ser statens roll som att underlätta för handel och internationalisering. Att EU aktivt verkar för fler frihandelsavtal och att icke-tariffära handelshinder motverkas ligger direkt i den linjen. Planen nämner inte enskilda förhandlingar, därav inferred.
- deepened tradedecisive»Fördjupa den inre marknaden, inte minst för tjänster och digitala produkter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Deepen the internal market, not least for services and digital products”
- the EU shall focus on trade»EU:s fokus ska ligga på att lösa problem som Sverige inte kan hantera ensamt, till exempel handel, klimat, migration och säkerhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The EU's focus shall be on solving problems that Sweden cannot handle alone, such as trade, climate, migration and security.”
- the state's role to facilitate trade»underlätta för handel och internationalisering« (party programme ↗)“facilitate trade and internationalization”
- EU cooperation central»Moderaterna är Europapartiet i svensk politik« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderate Party is the Europe party in Swedish politics”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that free trade is of great value for the Swedish economy and that Sweden's position on the international market should be improved, with the requirement that Swedish interests be protected in free trade agreements.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that free trade is of great value for the Swedish economy and that Sweden's position on the international market should be improved, with the requirement that Swedish interests be protected in free trade agreements. The plan's ambition that Swedish animal husbandry standards should become EU standard also aligns with the counter-proposal's demand for animal welfare in agreements. More free trade agreements with such terms are therefore supported, while the plan is lukewarm to expanded political union.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att fri handel är av stort värde för svensk ekonomi och att Sveriges ställning på den internationella marknaden ska förbättras, med kravet att svenska intressen värnas i frihandelsavtal. Planens ambition att svensk djurhållningsstandard ska bli EU-standard stämmer också med motförslagets krav på djurvälfärd i avtalen. Fler frihandelsavtal med sådana villkor stöds därför, medan planen är kallsinnig till utökad politisk union.
- free trade without political uniondecisive»Sverigedemokraterna anser att fri handel mellan europeiska länder är av stort värde för vår ekonomi men det finns inget behov av en mer integrerad politisk union för att åtnjuta frihandelns fördelar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats believes that free trade between European countries is of great value to our economy but there is no need for a more integrated political union to enjoy the benefits of free trade.”
- strengthened Swedish trade»Förbättra Sveriges ställning på den internationella marknaden och i handel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Improve Sweden's position on the international market and in trade”
- Swedish animal welfare standard in EU»Sverigedemokraternas ambition är att svensk standard vad gäller djurhållning ska bli standard för hela EU.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats' ambition is that Swedish standard regarding animal husbandry should become standard for the whole EU.”
- Swedish interests in agreements»Värna svenska intressen i frihandelsavtal« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect Swedish interests in free trade agreements”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:NU13)
- Committee report full text (HC01NU13)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:115 — Utökade krav på transparens och ansvar för fordonstillverkare samt en teknikneutral definition av miljöbil av Rashid Farivar (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1369 — Svenskt fiske och vattenbruk av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1418 — Åtgärder för att stärka kulturella och kreativa näringar av Alexander Christiansson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1430 — Vissa frågor i Mellanöstern och Afrika av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1431 — Vissa Asienfrågor av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1438 — Internationella relationer och mänskliga rättigheter av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1463 — Export av snus av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1466 — En handelspolitik för tillväxt av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:2467 — En näringspolitik för tillväxt i hela landet av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2486 — Vatten, hav och fiske av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2519 — Cirkulär ekonomi och kemikalier av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2533 — Stärka förbindelserna mellan EU och Republiken Kina (Taiwan) av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2613 — En grön klimathandlingsplan för Sverige 2025 av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:2625 — En grön feministisk utvecklings- och biståndspolitik av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:2635 — Näringspolitik för grön omställning och stärkt konkurrenskraft av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:2805 — En strategi för ökad produktion och export av svensk mat av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2948 — Arbetsmarknad av Jonny Cato m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2988 — Utökade handelsförbindelser och utbyte med Taiwan av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:3107 — Internationell samverkan av Morgan Johansson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3108 — Utgiftsområde 23 Areella näringar, landsbygd och livsmedel av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament