WTO reform

The plan works against trade agreements that restrict the space for democratic decisions and favours intergovernmental minimum rules over supranational decisions, as well as fairness rather than free trade terms. A WTO reform whose purpose is to make it easier to conclude new free trade agreements goes in the opposite direction, even though the plan shares the interest in technology transfer in the climate field — where it however advocates climate tariffs, not abolished tariffs. The conclusion is derived with low certainty.

• trade agreements must not bind democracydecisive»mot handelsavtal som inskränker utrymmet för« (party programme ↗)“against trade agreements that restrict the space for”
• intergovernmental minimum rules»en bättre väg att gå än överstatliga beslut.« (party programme ↗)“a better way to go than supranational decisions.”
• fairness rather than free trade»solidariskt bistånd och rättvisa handelsvillkor.« (party programme ↗)“solidarity-based aid and fair trade terms.”
• climate tariffs as a tool»tullar är viktiga verktyg för det.« (party programme ↗)“tariffs are an important tool for that.”

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 global cooperation within the WTO shall be strengthened and that Sweden shall export climate-smart solutions and drive other countries in climate transition. Reforming global trade rules and prioritising an agreement on reduced tariffs on environmental and climate technology combine these two commitments. The plan also stands up for open, free and fair trade.

• strengthened WTO cooperationdecisive»Det globala samarbetet inom WTO ska stärkas, liksom samarbetet med likasinnade länder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Global cooperation within the WTO shall be strengthened, as shall cooperation with like-minded countries.”
• drive global climate transition»Exportera klimatsmarta lösningar och driv på andra länder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Export climate-smart solutions and drive other countries forward.”
• 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.”
• trade consistent with environmental agreements»De internationella handelsavtalen måste stämma överens med de internationella« (party programme ↗)“International trade agreements must be consistent with the international”

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 explicitly requires that the World Trade Organisation WTO be reformed and democratised and that Sweden pursues fair trade. The plan also wants Swedish industry to deliver green goods and services globally, which argues for reduced tariffs on environmental and climate technology. That the plan simultaneously wants to introduce climate tariffs against countries outside the EU is a caveat, but the reform requirement is substantively supported.

• reform WTOdecisive»Världshandelsorganisationen WTO, Internationella valutafonden IMF och« (party programme ↗)“The World Trade Organisation WTO, the International Monetary Fund IMF and”
• free trade on fair terms»omvärlden och verka för frihandel på rättvisa« (party programme ↗)“the world and pursue free trade on fair”
• dissemination of green technology»svensk industri att leverera gröna varor och tjänster« (party programme ↗)“Swedish industry to deliver green goods and services”
• climate tariffs as a caveat»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 on emission rights in the EU, include emissions from aviation and shipping in the system and introduce climate tariffs on goods from countries outside the EU.”

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 makes trade policy a climate tool that should cut fossil subsidies and press major emitters, and states that Sweden cannot manage without free trade and more open markets. The party programme condemns tariffs and trade barriers and argues that shared challenges like tariff walls and climate issues can only be solved through international cooperation. Reformed global trade rules with abolished tariffs on climate technology as highest priority follows directly from this, even though the WTO is not mentioned.

• trade policy for climatedecisive»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 cut fossil subsidies around the world and pressure major emitters like China to shut down their coal power plants.”
• 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 more markets for Swedish goods and services.”
• away with tariffs»Tullar och handelshinder begränsar konsumenters och producenters val.« (party programme ↗)“Tariffs and trade barriers limit consumers' and producers' choice.”
• international cooperation required»Utmaningar som är gemensamma för många nationer, som tullmurar, klimatfrågan och internationell brottslighet, kan bara lösas genom internationellt samarbete.« (party programme ↗)“Challenges that are shared by many nations, such as tariff walls, the climate issue and international crime, can only be solved through international cooperation.”

The party programme requires that Sweden is a strong voice for free trade in the first place through global agreements and that tariffs and other trade barriers against the rest of the world are completely abolished – which is precisely the direction in the counter-proposal's demand for reformed global trade rules. That a global agreement on reduced tariffs on environmental and climate technology is prioritized responds to that climate aspects shall be integrated in trade policy and that new technology and international cooperation is the most important climate tool. WTO is not explicitly mentioned, so the conclusion is derived.

• global free trade agreements firstdecisive»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, first and foremost through global agreements but otherwise through”
• abolished tariffs»EU ska helt avskaffa tullar och andra handelshinder mot omvärlden.« (party programme ↗)“The EU shall completely abolish tariffs and other trade barriers against the rest of the world.”
• climate in trade policy»Klimataspekterna ska integreras i EU:s handelspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“Climate aspects shall be integrated in the EU's trade policy.”
• technology and international cooperation»mer ny teknik, mer internationellt samarbete och fler effektiva styrmedel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“more new technology, more international cooperation and more effective instruments”

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 party programme makes freer world trade with fairer rules a prerequisite for reduced global inequality and requires trade liberalizations for the products poorer countries are best at producing. The plan also places requirements on international trade bodies like the WTO and establishes that the EU shall work for a solution to climate problems, which supports the requirement for reduced tariffs on environmental and climate technology. The counter-proposal's requirement for reformed global trade rules is therefore in line with the plan.

• 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.”
• requirements on trade bodies»Internationella organ som Världshandelsorganisationen WTO« (party programme ↗)“International bodies such as the World Trade Organization WTO”
• global climate solution»EU verka för en lösning av klimatproblemet.« (party programme ↗)“EU work for a solution to climate problems.”
• trade liberalizations»Det behövs handelsliberaliseringar för de produkter« (party programme ↗)“Trade liberalizations are needed for the products”

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 sees the state's task as facilitating trade and internationalization and wants to reform international institutions, including the UN. It also establishes that emission reductions abroad are often cheaper than at home, which argues for abolishing tariffs on environmental and climate technology. A reform of the WTO to enable new agreements therefore aligns with the plan, which however does not mention the WTO.

• underlätta handeldecisive»underlätta för handel och internationalisering« (party programme ↗)“facilitate trade and internationalization”
• reformerade internationella institutioner»Verka för ett reformerat FN« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for a reformed UN”
• internationella klimatinsatser lönar sig»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 initiatives is often much lower than the cost of reducing emissions in Sweden”
• regelbaserad handelsordning»det regelbaserade systemet för handel« (party programme ↗)“the rules-based system for trade”

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 the possibility for global trade and Swedish exports are fundamental to Swedish prosperity and that Sweden's position in trade should be improved. It also wants to contribute to reduced emissions through increased export of goods and services, which lowered tariffs on environmental and climate technology favour. Reformed global trade rules are therefore supported, with the requirement that Swedish interests are protected in the agreements.

• global trade and Swedish exportsdecisive»Men det handlar också om att förbättra möjligheten till global handel och svensk export, som är grundläggande för svenskt välstånd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“But it is also about improving the possibility for global trade and Swedish exports, which are fundamental to Swedish prosperity.”
• exports as a climate measure»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”
• 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 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.