The direction of the EU's and Sweden's trade policy

The plan's decisive commitment here is that climate tariffs are an important tool to reconcile the transition with demands on pace, which is exactly what the counter-proposal wants to broaden. The plan, however, does not share the counter-proposal's premise that free trade benefits most and that stringent climate legislation is a competitive disadvantage; it requires fair trade conditions and is critical of trade agreements that restrict democratic space. The substantive requirement for broadened climate tariffs weighs heaviest and leads to support.

• climate tariffs as a tooldecisive»tullar är viktiga verktyg för det.« (party programme ↗)“tariffs are important tools for it.”
• fair trade conditions»solidariskt bistånd och rättvisa handelsvillkor.« (party programme ↗)“solidarity development aid and fair trade conditions.”
• criticism of free trade agreements»eller mot handelsavtal som inskränker utrymmet för« (party programme ↗)“or against trade agreements that restrict the space for”
• stringent environmental legislation»miljömål som följs upp med skarp lagstiftning och praktiskt arbete.« (party programme ↗)“environmental goals that are monitored with strict legislation and practical work.”

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 stands up for open, free and fair trade and wants to promote exports and counter protectionism, which directly supports the counter-proposal's view that the internal market and rules-based world trade benefit Sweden. The broadening of climate tariffs responds to the plan's commitment to a global carbon price and that the principle of polluter pays is fully applied.

• 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.”
• against protectionism»Insatser för att främja svensk export, värna frihandeln och motverka protektionism.« (party programme ↗)“Measures to promote Swedish exports, defend free trade and counter protectionism.”
• global carbon price»Vi ska verka för att ett globalt koldioxidpris införs med principen att förorenaren betalar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall work for a global carbon price to be introduced with the principle that the polluter pays.”
• the polluter pays»Principen om att förorenaren betalar tillämpas fullt ut.« (party programme ↗)“The principle that the polluter pays is fully applied.”

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 election manifesto explicitly demands climate tariffs on goods from countries outside the EU, which is the counter-proposal's operative demand to gradually broaden climate tariffs. The party programme states that the EU should be the leading force in global climate work and that trade agreements should not prevent countries from strengthening protection for people, environment and animals. However, the counter-proposal's concern that climate requirements damage competitiveness is not shared by the plan.

• climate tariffs against carbon leakagedecisive»höja priset på utsläppsrätter i EU, inkludera utsläpp från flyg och sjöfart i systemet och införa klimattullar på varor från länder utanför EU.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“raise the price of emissions allowances in the EU, include emissions from aviation and shipping in the system and introduce climate tariffs on goods from countries outside the EU.”
• EU as climate leader»EU ska vara den ledande kraften i det globala klimatarbetet och driva på för att minska« (party programme ↗)“The EU should be the leading force in global climate work and drive to reduce”
• trade shall not lower environmental requirements»Handelsavtal ska inte förhindra länder att skärpa skyddet för människor, miljö och djur.« (party programme ↗)“Trade agreements shall not prevent countries from strengthening protection for people, environment and animals.”
• open and fair trade»Sverige är en liten och öppen ekonomi. En rättvis handel är en förutsättning för vårt välstånd.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden is a small and open economy. Fair trade is a prerequisite for our prosperity.”

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 wants to use trade policy as a climate tool and make emissions trading more ambitious and open to more countries, while Sweden needs more free trade and not protectionism. The counter-proposal's combination of defence for the rule-based world trade and gradually broadened climate tariffs is the same attitude: the one who emits shall pay, regardless of where production takes place. The plan does not mention climate tariffs explicitly, so the position is derived.

• trade policy as climate tooldecisive»Vi ska använda handelspolitiken för att kapa fossila subventioner runtom i världen och pressa stora utsläppare som Kina att stänga ner sina kolkraftverk.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall use trade policy to eliminate fossil subsidies around the world and pressure major emitters like China to shut down their coal power plants.”
• more ambitious emissions trading»EU:s system för handel med utsläppsrätter är bland de mest effektiva verktyg vi har, och vi vill göra det ännu mer ambitiöst och öppna upp det för fler länder som vill ansluta sig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The EU's system for trading in emissions allowances is one of the most effective tools we have, and we want to make it even more ambitious and open it up to more countries that want to join.”
• free trade against protectionism»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.”
• climate requirements in trade»Ställ hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Set stricter requirements on working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements.”

The election manifesto explicitly establishes that a European carbon tax and climate tariffs are needed to raise the cost of emissions, which is precisely the counter-proposal's demand for broadened climate tariffs. The plan simultaneously wants to strengthen the EU as a free trade union with a deepened internal market and more free trade agreements, and is a strong voice for free trade against protectionism. The counter-proposal's demand thus follows directly from the plan.

• climate tariffs and carbon taxdecisive»Det behövs en europeisk koldioxidskatt och klimattullar för att höja kostnaden för utsläpp, samtidigt som det europeiska klimatbiståndet ökar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A European carbon tax and climate tariffs are needed to raise the cost of emissions, while European climate aid increases.”
• EU as free trade union»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.”
• strong voice for free trade»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihandel, i första hand genom globala avtal men annars genom regionala överenskommelser.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for free trade, primarily through global agreements but otherwise through regional agreements.”
• climate and trade linked»EU:s klimat- och handelspolitik ska knytas närmare varandra.« (party programme ↗)“The EU's climate and trade policy shall be tied more closely together.”

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 establishes that freer world trade with fairer rules is necessary and that the EU should develop the internal market, which lies behind the counter-proposal's criticism of protectionism. The plan also wants a system in which emissions incur costs within the EU and requires equivalent competitive conditions compared to other countries, which is precisely the rationale for expanded climate tariffs.

• freer world tradedecisive»De globala klyftorna är med denna utgångspunkt oacceptabla. En friare världshandel med« (party programme ↗)“The global disparities are with this starting point unacceptable. Freer world trade with”
• emissions should cost within the EU»Ett system som innebär att utsläpp medför kostnader bör finnas« (party programme ↗)“A system in which emissions incur costs should exist”
• equivalent competitive conditions»dessa näringar ges likvärdiga konkurrensvillkor gentemot andra länder.« (party programme ↗)“these industries are given equivalent competitive conditions compared to other countries.”
• develop the internal market»förbättra den inre marknaden. Det måste ske genom att förenkla regler och förbättra« (party programme ↗)“improve the internal market. This must happen by simplifying rules and improving”

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 counter-proposal watches over the internal market and rules-based free trade, warns against protectionism and wants to counteract that Swedish companies face unfair competition from countries without equivalent climate requirements. The plan makes the internal market and growth the core of Sweden's EU work and sees the state's role in the economy as safeguarding its fundamental institutions. The requirement for broadened climate tariffs is not addressed in the plan, which rather points to international climate efforts, so support is uncertain.

• deepened 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”
• growth and competitiveness in the EU»Arrangera ett EU-toppmöte om tillväxt under det svenska EU-ordförandeskapet i syfte att sätta i gång ett arbete med att få på plats en ny tillväxtstrategi för EU« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Arrange an EU summit on growth during the Swedish EU presidency with the aim of launching work to get a new growth strategy for the EU in place”
• the institutions of free trade»Statens roll i ekonomin är att värna dess grundläggande« (party programme ↗)“The state's role in the economy is to safeguard its fundamental”
• cost-effective climate policy»Samtidigt är kostnaden för att minska utsläppen genom internationella klimatinsatser ofta mycket lägre än för att minska utsläppen i Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time the cost of reducing emissions through international climate efforts is often much lower than reducing emissions in Sweden”

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 affirms free trade but explicitly rejects new EU taxes and power transfers to the union, and wishes to protect Swedish interests in trade agreements. The counter-proposal's requirement for successively broadened climate tariffs means precisely an expanded EU fee on trade. The plan's concern that differing climate requirements move production abroad at the same time speaks for border adjustments, which makes the assessment uncertain.

• no to EU taxesdecisive»Stoppa maktöverföringar och EU-skatter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop power transfers and EU taxes”
• free trade without political union»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 believe 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.”
• Swedish interests in trade»Värna svenska intressen i frihandelsavtal« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect Swedish interests in free trade agreements”
• avoid carbon leakage»Detta för också med sig att en politik som kraftigt avviker från EU och övriga världens politik på området kan skada vår konkurrenskraft och bidra till att flytta produktion från Sverige till andra länder vilket kan öka utsläppen på global nivå.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“This also means that a policy that strongly differs from EU and rest of the world's policy on the subject can damage our competitiveness and contribute to moving production from Sweden to other countries which can increase emissions at global level.”