2022-12-212022/23:NU1 · p.1NUBusiness & energy
Goals for Foreign Trade, Export and Investment Promotion
What's at stake: The wording of the goal guides which priorities steer Sweden's trade policy and EU work in the years ahead, with implications for exporting companies and for the countries affected by Swedish trade.
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 the overarching goal for foreign trade should be framed around rules-based or fair international trade.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee backs the government's proposal to replace the previous goal with one of free, sustainable and rules-based international trade, a well-functioning internal market, and growing exports and investment, stressing the importance of the multilateral rules-based trading system and the WTO for predictability and equal terms for all countries.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S, V, MP)
The dissenters want to keep the previous goal of free, sustainable and fair international trade instead of the government's new wording, arguing that fair trade better protects the environment, the climate, working conditions, and a feminist trade policy.
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: approving what the committee proposes and rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by S, V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/17/0/7 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/90/0/17 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | No 0/14/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 18/0/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 10/0/0/6 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 15/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 54/0/0/14 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/11 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
Parliament approves that the previous goal for the area Foreign Trade, Export and Investment Promotion ceases to apply and approves the goal for the area Foreign Trade, Export and Investment Promotion that the government proposes. Thereby parliament agrees with proposition 2022/23:1 expenditure area 24 point 1 and rejects the motions 2022/23:2064 by Fredrik Olovsson et al. (S) demand 13 and 2022/23:2237 by Fredrik Olovsson et al. (S) demand 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen godkänner att det tidigare målet för området Utrikeshandel, export- och investeringsfrämjande upphör att gälla och godkänner det mål för området Utrikeshandel, export- och investeringsfrämjande som regeringen föreslår. Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2022/23:1 utgiftsområde 24 punkt 1 och avslår motionerna 2022/23:2064 av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 13 och 2022/23:2237 av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 2.
Riksdag decision: In total, just over 11.4 billion kronor from the state budget for 2023 goes to the expenditure area Business and Industry. Parliament said yes to the government's proposal in the budget proposition for 2023 on how the money within the expenditure area shall be allocated. Most money, approximately 3.5 billion kronor, goes to Verket för innovationssystem (Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems): research and development. 2.4 billion kronor goes to electricity support and just over 834 million kronor goes to the Institutes' Strategic Competence Funds. Parliament said yes to the government's proposal on goals for the area Foreign Trade, Export and Investment Promotion and to various authorizations (bemyndiganden), including regarding Telia Company AB and SAS AB. Parliament decides the state budget in two steps. First, the framework for the 27 expenditure areas in the budget is decided. Parliament decided this on 13 December 2022. Subsequently, parliament in a second step determines how the money shall be allocated within each expenditure area. This decision concerns step two in the decision process.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to maintain the current trade policy goal and pursue fair trade that contributes to achieving the Agenda 2030 goals. (S, V, MP) — Reservation 1
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 establishes that free trade presumes equivalent conditions and that a fair trade policy that counteracts today's unequal world market must be developed, and that market fundamentalist free trade rules shall be challenged.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that free trade presumes equivalent conditions and that a fair trade policy that counteracts today's unequal world market must be developed, and that market fundamentalist free trade rules shall be challenged. The party stands on a feminist basis. Retaining the goal of fair trade rather than a rules-based free trade formulation therefore aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att frihandel förutsätter likvärdiga förutsättningar och att en rättvis handelspolitik som motverkar dagens ojämlika världsmarknad måste utvecklas, samt att marknadsfundamentalistiska frihandelsregler ska utmanas. Partiet står på feministisk grund. Att behålla målet om rättvis handel i stället för en regelbaserad frihandelsformulering ligger därför i linje med planen.
- fair trade before free tradedecisive»Frihandel förutsätter likvärdiga förutsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“Free trade presumes equivalent conditions.”
- counter unequal world trade»som motverkar dagens ojämlika förhållanden på världsmarknaden,« (party programme ↗)“that counteract today's unequal conditions on the world market,”
- challenge free trade rules»De marknadsfundamentalistiska konkurrens- och frihandelsregler som försvårar« (party programme ↗)“Market fundamentalist competition and free trade rules that make”
flags: citat_blockerat
The election manifesto establishes that the party stands for open, free and fair trade, which is precisely the formulation the counter-proposal wants to retain.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that the party stands for open, free and fair trade, which is precisely the formulation the counter-proposal wants to retain. The plan moreover requires that trade agreements are guided by human rights, social dialogue and environment and that they are consistent with environmental treaties. The fairness requirement is thus its own commitment, not just a question of wording.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att partiet står upp för en öppen, fri och rättvis handel, vilket är precis den formulering motförslaget vill behålla. Planen kräver dessutom att handelsavtal vägleds av mänskliga rättigheter, social dialog och miljö och att de stämmer överens med miljöavtalen. Rättvisekravet är därmed ett eget åtagande, inte bara en fråga om ordval.
- free and fair tradedecisive»Vi står upp för en öppen, fri och rättvis handel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We stand up for open, free and fair trade.”
- trade with values»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 also our values about social dialogue, human rights and environment are guiding.”
- fair rules of play»Frihandel är ett av de viktigaste instrumenten för att främja en global ekonomisk utveckling, men den förutsätter rättvisa spelregler i det internationella handelssystemet.« (party programme ↗)“Free trade is one of the most important instruments to promote global economic development, but it presupposes fair rules in the international trading system.”
- trade consistent with environmental treaties»De internationella handelsavtalen måste stämma överens med de internationella miljöavtalen.« (party programme ↗)“International trade agreements must be consistent with international environmental treaties.”
The party programme states that Sweden should work for free trade on fair terms, that strict environmental requirements and social requirements should be introduced in trade policy and that organisations working for fair trade should be supported.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that Sweden should work for free trade on fair terms, that strict environmental requirements and social requirements should be introduced in trade policy and that organisations working for fair trade should be supported. The election manifesto also wants to strengthen feminist foreign policy. Keeping the goal of fair trade, instead of a formulation without the fairness requirement, is precisely the plan's direction.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet säger att Sverige ska verka för frihandel på rättvisa villkor, att hårda miljökrav och sociala krav ska införas i handelspolitiken och att organisationer för rättvis handel ska stödjas. Valmanifestet vill dessutom förstärka den feministiska utrikespolitiken. Att behålla målet om en rättvis handel, i stället för en formulering utan rättvisekravet, är just planens linje.
- free trade on fair termsdecisive»omvärlden och verka för frihandel på rättvisa« (party programme ↗)“the world and work for free trade on fair”
- environmental and social requirements in trade»införa hårda miljökrav och sociala krav i handelspolitiken som kan bidra till förbättringar långt« (party programme ↗)“introduce strict environmental and social requirements in trade policy that can contribute to improvements far”
- feminist trade policy»utveckla och förstärka Sveriges feministiska utrikes- och utvecklingspolitik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“develop and strengthen Sweden's feminist foreign and development policy.”
- support for fair trade»Organisationer som verkar för rättvis handel« (party programme ↗)“Organisations working for fair trade”
The plan combines free trade with explicit demands: stricter demands on working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements, and consideration for ethical and environmental perspectives.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan combines free trade with explicit demands: stricter demands on working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements, and consideration for ethical and environmental perspectives. The party also calls itself feminist. The counter-proposal's demand to retain fair trade in the goal, with reference to environment, working conditions and equal effects, responds to these commitments, although the plan simultaneously embraces the rules-based trading system.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kombinerar frihandel med uttryckliga krav: hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal, och hänsyn till etiska och miljömässiga perspektiv. Partiet kallar sig dessutom feministiskt. Motförslagets krav att behålla rättvis handel i målet, med hänvisning till miljö, arbetsvillkor och jämställda effekter, svarar mot dessa åtaganden, även om planen samtidigt bejakar det regelbaserade handelssystemet.
- demands on working conditions and environmentdecisive»Ställ hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Set stricter demands on working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements.”
- ethics and environment in trade»Hänsyn måste tas till etiska och miljömässiga perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Consideration must be given to ethical and environmental perspectives.”
- feminist politics»Centerpartiet är ett feministiskt parti, som utmanar och bryter rådande maktförhållanden och kollektiva orättvisor.« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party is a feminist party, which challenges and breaks prevailing power structures and collective injustices.”
- free trade and open markets»Sverige klarar sig inte utan frihandel. Öppna upp fler marknader för svenska varor och tjänster.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden cannot manage without free trade. Open up more markets for Swedish goods and services.”
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's crucial commitment is that Sweden shall be a strong voice for free trade, primarily through global agreements, and that the EU shall be strengthened as a free-trade union with more free-trade agreements.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's crucial commitment is that Sweden shall be a strong voice for free trade, primarily through global agreements, and that the EU shall be strengthened as a free-trade union with more free-trade agreements. A goal of free, sustainable and rule-based trade with growing exports lies close to that line, whereas the counter-proposal's concept just trade points toward conditioned trade. The plan sees free trade as a means for both efficiency and a freer world.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihandel, i första hand genom globala avtal, och att EU ska stärkas som frihandelsunion med fler frihandelsavtal. Ett mål om fri, hållbar och regelbaserad handel med växande export ligger nära den linjen, medan motförslagets begrepp rättvis handel pekar mot villkorad handel. Planen ser frihandeln som ett medel för både effektivitet och en friare värld.
- strong voice for free tradedecisive»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihandel, i första hand genom globala avtal men annars genom regionala« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for free trade, primarily through global agreements but otherwise through regional”
- more free-trade agreements»Vi ska stärka EU som frihandelsunion med en fördjupad inre marknad, värna den fria rörligheten i Europa och verka för fler frihandelsavtal med omvärlden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall strengthen the EU as a free-trade union with a deepened internal market, protect free movement in Europe and work for more free-trade agreements with the world.”
- free trade's advantages»Handels- och främjandepolitiken ska stärka Sverige som aktör för en friare värld och dra nytta av frihandelns fördelar utan den naivitet som alltför länge uppvisats för kinesisk och rysk maktpolitik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Trade and promotion policy shall strengthen Sweden as an actor for a freer world and benefit from free trade's advantages without the naivety that has for too long been shown toward Chinese and Russian power politics.”
- free trade gives efficiency»Frihandel leder till effektivare hushållning med resurser och snabbare teknikspridning.« (party programme ↗)“Free trade leads to more efficient resource management and faster technology spread.”
The counter-proposal wants to keep the goal of fair trade instead of rules-based trade, citing feminist trade policy as reason.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to keep the goal of fair trade instead of rules-based trade, citing feminist trade policy as reason. The plan's trade line is based on simplifying rules, improving competition and that international bodies such as the WTO set requirements and provide predictability, which lies closer to the new goal formulation. The plan at the same time speaks of fairer rules in world trade, so the difference is small and the assessment uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill behålla målet om rättvis handel i stället för regelbaserad handel, med feministisk handelspolitik som skäl. Planens handelslinje bygger på att regler förenklas, konkurrensen förbättras och att internationella organ som WTO ställer krav och ger förutsägbarhet, vilket ligger närmare den nya målformuleringen. Planen talar samtidigt om rättvisare spelregler i världshandeln, varför skillnaden är liten och bedömningen osäker.
- rule simplification and competitiondecisive»Det måste ske genom att förenkla regler och förbättra konkurrensen« (party programme ↗)“This must happen by simplifying rules and improving competition”
- rules-based trading system»Internationella organ som Världshandelsorganisationen WTO« (party programme ↗)“International bodies such as the World Trade Organization WTO”
- freer trade with fair rules»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 precondition for the chasms to be able to narrow.”
The counter-proposal wants to keep a goal about fair trade and a feminist trade policy instead of a rule-based trade goal.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to keep a goal about fair trade and a feminist trade policy instead of a rule-based trade goal. The plan puts Swedish interests, free trade and a deeper internal market at the centre, and the party programme rejects identity politics' collectivization of the human as a basis for politics. The plan therefore points away from the counter-proposal's formulation and the requirement is rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill behålla ett mål om rättvis handel och en feministisk handelspolitik i stället för ett regelbaserat handelsmål. Planen sätter svenska intressen, frihandel och en djupare inre marknad i centrum, och partiprogrammet avvisar identitetspolitikens kollektivisering av människan som grund för politiken. Planen pekar därför bort från motförslagets formulering och kravet avvisas.
- Swedish interests firstweak support»Svensk utrikespolitik ska värna svenska intressen.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish foreign policy should protect Swedish interests.”
- free trade and internal marketdecisive»Fördjupa den inre marknaden, inte minst för tjänster och digitala produkter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Deepen the internal market, not least for services and digital products”
- rejects identity politics»identitetspolitikens kollektivisering av människan« (party programme ↗)“identity politics' collectivization of the human”
flags: citat_svagt
The counter-proposal wants to retain a trade goal of fair trade on the grounds that it better protects feminist trade policy with equal effects for women and men.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to retain a trade goal of fair trade on the grounds that it better protects feminist trade policy with equal effects for women and men. The plan rejects political measures designed to create the same outcomes at group level between genders and instead prioritizes Swedish export, competitiveness, and Sweden's position in trade. A rules-based and export-oriented goal therefore aligns better with the plan than the counter-proposal's formulation.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill behålla ett handelsmål om rättvis handel med motiveringen att det bättre värnar en feministisk handelspolitik med lika effekter för kvinnor och män. Planen avvisar politiska åtgärder som ska skapa samma utfall på gruppnivå mellan könen och prioriterar i stället svensk export, konkurrenskraft och Sveriges ställning i handeln. Ett regelbaserat och exportinriktat mål ligger därmed närmare planen än motförslagets formulering.
- reject outcome equalitydecisive»Riktig jämställdhet nås inte genom att vidta politiska åtgärder för att på gruppnivå skapa samma utfall mellan män och kvinnor, utan genom att ta krafttag mot samhällsfenomen som begränsar den enskilde.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“True equality is not achieved through taking political measures to create the same outcome at group level between men and women, but through taking strong action against social phenomena that limit the individual.”
- strengthened trade position»Förbättra Sveriges ställning på den internationella marknaden och i handel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Improve Sweden's position in the international market and in trade”
- export as climate strategy»Bidra till minskade utsläpp genom att öka exporten av mat, varor och tjänster« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Contribute to reduced emissions by increasing exports of food, goods, and services”
- Swedish interests in trade policy»Värna svenska intressen i frihandelsavtal« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect Swedish interests in free trade agreements”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:NU1)
- Committee report full text (HA01NU1)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1276 — Utgiftsområde 24 Näringsliv av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:2064 — Handel och exportfrämjande av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2182 — Utgiftsområde 24 Näringsliv av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:2237 — Utgiftsområde 24 Näringsliv av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S)
- Proposition 2022/23:1 — Budgetpropositionen för 2023
Source: The Swedish Parliament