2023-03-292022/23:NU12 · p.4NUBusiness & energy
Revised Sustainability Requirements in Trade Agreements
Revised sustainability requirements in EU trade agreements and developing countries' raw-material processing
What's at stake: The decision affects developing countries' ability to process their own raw materials and capture more of the added value, as well as how trade policy interacts with the EU's work to counter adverse effects on human rights and the environment in value chains.
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 government should work to have EU trade agreements revised so that developing countries get better opportunities to extract and process raw materials themselves in a sustainable way, or whether the current work on sustainability requirements, including the EU's due-diligence proposal, is sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion, noting that the European Commission has already presented a proposed due-diligence directive regulating companies' responsibility for human rights and the environment in the value chain, and that work on matters such as global biodiversity standards is under way. The committee notes that members hold differing views on the scope of the framework and that the work is still ongoing at EU level.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 5 (V, MP)
The Left Party and the Green Party consider that all trade relations should take environmental and human rights concerns into account and that poor countries' conditions for fair trade should be strengthened. The parties point out that the EU's raw materials initiative does not cover poverty reduction, and want the government to work for EU trade agreements to be revised so that developing countries can themselves extract and process raw materials in a way that benefits economically, socially and environmentally sustainable development locally.
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 5 by 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 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/14 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 59/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 64/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2022/23:2261 by Janine Alm Ericson et al. (MP) provision 22.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2022/23:2261 av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP) yrkande 22.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to 85 proposals in motions submitted during the general motion session of 2022. The proposals concern international trade, the EU's internal market, trade and investment promotion and sustainable business. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to the policy pursued, ongoing work and various measures. The proposals concern, among other things, overarching questions about free trade and protectionism, that is, protection of domestic production by means of, for example, tariffs. The proposals also concern requirements in trade agreements, reform of the World Trade Organization, trade relations with certain countries, issues about free movement for certain goods, trade promotion, scrutiny of foreign direct investment and sustainable business.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to work for EU trade agreements to be reworked to promote developing countries' sustainable extraction and processing of raw materials. (V, MP) — Reservation 5
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 programme requires that just trade policy be developed that counteracts today's unequal conditions in the global market, and criticises that trade policy favours European industry at the expense of poor countries.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The programme requires that just trade policy be developed that counteracts today's unequal conditions in the global market, and criticises that trade policy favours European industry at the expense of poor countries. It also states that poor countries should have the right to protect and control their production so that it can develop, which is exactly what the requirement for reworked trade agreements on raw material processing means. Environmental and rights considerations must also take precedence over capital interests.
Original (Swedish)
Programmet kräver att en rättvis handelspolitik utvecklas som motverkar dagens ojämlika förhållanden på världsmarknaden, och kritiserar att handelspolitiken gynnar europeisk industri på fattiga länders bekostnad. Det slår också fast att fattiga länder ska ha rätt att skydda och kontrollera sin produktion så att den kan utvecklas, vilket är precis vad kravet på omarbetade handelsavtal om råvaruförädling innebär. Miljö- och rättighetshänsyn ska dessutom gå före kapitalintressen.
- just trade policydecisive»En rättvis handelspolitik« (party programme ↗)“Just trade policy”
- poor countries' control over production»Därför ska inte bara fattiga länder ha rätt att skydda och kontrollera« (party programme ↗)“Therefore not only poor countries should have the right to protect and control”
- criticism of EU's trade policy»I handelspolitiken gynnas europeisk jordbruks- och livsmedelsindustri på« (party programme ↗)“In trade policy European agricultural and food industry is favoured by”
- rights before capital interests»ekologiska hänsyn ska gå före kapitalintressen.« (party programme ↗)“ecological considerations must take precedence over capital interests.”
The programme establishes that trade agreements must not become tools for strong capital interests against poor countries and that free trade requires fair rules, which is exactly the counter-proposal's starting point on developing countries' right to process their raw materials.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The programme establishes that trade agreements must not become tools for strong capital interests against poor countries and that free trade requires fair rules, which is exactly the counter-proposal's starting point on developing countries' right to process their raw materials. The election manifesto requires that human rights and environment are guiding in the EU's trade agreements, and the programme that the EU expands its development cooperation and abolishes its own trade barriers. The raw materials initiative as such is not mentioned.
Original (Swedish)
Programmet slår fast att handelsavtalen inte får bli verktyg för starka kapitalintressen gentemot fattiga länder och att frihandel förutsätter rättvisa spelregler, vilket är precis motförslagets utgångspunkt om utvecklingsländers rätt att förädla sina råvaror. Valmanifestet kräver att mänskliga rättigheter och miljö är vägledande i EU:s handelsavtal, och programmet att EU utökar sitt utvecklingssamarbete och avskaffar egna handelshinder. Råvaruinitiativet som sådant nämns inte.
- trade must not exploit poor countriesdecisive»Handelsavtalen får inte bli verktyg för starka kapitalintressen gentemot fattiga länder« (party programme ↗)“Trade agreements must not become tools for strong capital interests against poor countries”
- fair rules in trade»men den förutsätter rättvisa spelregler i det internationella handelssystemet.« (party programme ↗)“but it requires fair rules in the international trade system.”
- rights guide trade agreements»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 on social dialogue, human rights and environment are also guiding.”
- EU pushing for solidarity»Vi vill att EU ska vara pådrivande i det internationella solidaritetsarbetet, både genom att« (party programme ↗)“We want the EU to be pushing in international solidarity work, both through”
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 demands that trade barriers against poor countries be torn down so that trade policy becomes a tool for them to develop their economies based on their own conditions, and that strict environmental and social requirements be introduced in trade policy.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme demands that trade barriers against poor countries be torn down so that trade policy becomes a tool for them to develop their economies based on their own conditions, and that strict environmental and social requirements be introduced in trade policy. The conditions for trade should be shaped with the equalization of resources as a guiding star. Reworking trade agreements so that developing countries can themselves extract and process raw materials sustainably is thus the plan's own line.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att handelshinder gentemot fattiga länder rivs så att handelspolitiken blir ett verktyg för dem att utveckla sina ekonomier utifrån sina förutsättningar, och att hårda miljökrav och sociala krav införs i handelspolitiken. Handelns förutsättningar ska utformas med utjämning av resurser som ledstjärna. Att omarbeta handelsavtal så att utvecklingsländer själva kan utvinna och bearbeta råvaror hållbart är därmed planens egen linje.
- tear down trade barriers for poor countriesdecisive»även om det strider mot EU:s inre marknad. Handelshinder gentemot fattiga länder ska rivas så att« (party programme ↗)“even if it conflicts with the EU's internal market. Trade barriers against poor countries must be torn down so that”
- 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”
- equalization as guiding star»Förutsättningar för handel ska utformas med utjämning av« (party programme ↗)“Conditions for trade must be shaped with equalization of”
- requirements on imported goods»Sverige ska ställa krav på att importerade varor är« (party programme ↗)“Sweden must demand that imported goods are”
The election manifesto requires that stronger requirements on working conditions, environment and climate be placed in trade agreements, and the party programme states that ethical and environmental perspectives must be considered in trade.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that stronger requirements on working conditions, environment and climate be placed in trade agreements, and the party programme states that ethical and environmental perspectives must be considered in trade. Reworking trade agreements so that developing countries can themselves process their raw materials sustainably is also in line with the requirement that rich countries should contribute to sustainable development in developing countries. The plan's basic position is continued free trade, but with such conditions.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat ställs i handelsavtal, och partiprogrammet slår fast att hänsyn måste tas till etiska och miljömässiga perspektiv i handeln. Att omarbeta handelsavtal så att utvecklingsländer själva kan förädla sina råvaror hållbart ligger också i linje med kravet att rika länder ska bidra till utvecklingsländers hållbara utveckling. Planens grundhållning är fortsatt frihandel, men med sådana villkor.
- conditions in trade agreementsdecisive»Ställ hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Place stronger requirements on working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements.”
- support to developing countries»Världens rika länder måste bidra till att utvecklingsländer snabbare kan nå en hållbar utveckling.« (party programme ↗)“The world's rich countries must help developing countries more rapidly achieve sustainable development.”
- ethics in trade»Hänsyn måste tas till etiska och miljömässiga perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Ethical and environmental perspectives must be considered.”
- global justice»Centerpartiet är byggt av människor med starkt internationellt engagemang, i en tradition av global rättvisa« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party is built by people with strong international engagement, in a tradition of global justice”
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 demands that the EU completely abolishes tariffs and other trade barriers against the rest of the world and that climate aspects are integrated in trade policy, and the election manifesto makes foreign policy explicitly values-driven.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme demands that the EU completely abolishes tariffs and other trade barriers against the rest of the world and that climate aspects are integrated in trade policy, and the election manifesto makes foreign policy explicitly values-driven. That reworking trade agreements so that developing countries can themselves process their raw materials is precisely tearing down the trade barriers that keep them in raw material export. The plan does not speak of raw material initiatives, wherefore the support is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att EU helt avskaffar tullar och andra handelshinder mot omvärlden och att klimataspekterna integreras i handelspolitiken, och valmanifestet gör utrikespolitiken uttalat värderingsstyrd. Att omarbeta handelsavtal så att utvecklingsländer själva kan förädla sina råvaror är just att riva de handelshinder som håller dem kvar i råvaruexport. Planen talar inte om råvaruinitiativ, varför stödet är härlett.
- abolished trade barriersdecisive»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.”
- values-driven foreign policy»Vi kallar det för vad det är: en ny värderingsstyrd utrikespolitik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We call it what it is: a new values-driven foreign policy.”
- free trade as development path»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihandel« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for free 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 requires that trade and agriculture policy be made compatible with international solidarity, that the EU contributes to just global rules and that development cooperation occurs among other things through increased domestic processing of raw materials in low and middle-income countries.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that trade and agriculture policy be made compatible with international solidarity, that the EU contributes to just global rules and that development cooperation occurs among other things through increased domestic processing of raw materials in low and middle-income countries. To rework trade agreements so that developing countries can themselves extract and process raw materials sustainably directly answers these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att handels- och jordbrukspolitiken görs förenlig med internationell solidaritet, att EU bidrar till rättvisa globala spelregler och att utvecklingssamarbetet bland annat sker genom ökad inhemsk förädling av råvaror i låg- och medelinkomstländer. Att omarbeta handelsavtal så att utvecklingsländer själva kan utvinna och bearbeta råvaror på ett hållbart sätt svarar direkt mot dessa åtaganden.
- domestic processing in poor countriesdecisive»ökad inhemsk förädling av råvaror« (party programme ↗)“increased domestic processing of raw materials”
- trade compatible with solidarity»Handels- och jordbrukspolitiken måste göras« (party programme ↗)“Trade and agriculture policy must be made”
- just global rules»EU har ett ansvar att bidra till rättvisa globala spel« (party programme ↗)“The EU has a responsibility to contribute to just global rules”
- market access for poor countries»Det behövs handelsliberaliseringar för de produkter« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for trade liberalisation 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 rests on the premise that real development above all comes from market economy and trade, and wants to deepen free trade rather than place new conditions in trade agreements.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan rests on the premise that real development above all comes from market economy and trade, and wants to deepen free trade rather than place new conditions in trade agreements. It also wants to avoid levies beyond EU level and direct development assistance to where it does the most good. Reworking trade agreements with sustainability and rights conditions therefore has no support in the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen bygger på att verklig utveckling framför allt kommer ur marknadsekonomi och handel, och vill fördjupa frihandeln snarare än att lägga nya villkor i handelsavtalen. Den vill också undvika pålagor utöver EU-nivån och styra utvecklingsinsatser dit de gör störst nytta. Att omarbeta handelsavtalen med hållbarhets- och rättighetsvillkor har därför inte stöd i planen.
- trade develops countriesdecisive»verklig utveckling är möjlig och att den bygger mer än något« (party programme ↗)“real development is possible and it rests more than anything”
- deepened free trade»Fördjupa den inre marknaden, inte minst för tjänster och digitala produkter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Deepen the internal market, especially for services and digital products”
- no extra levies»motverka överimplementering i Sverige av EU-beslut« (2022 manifesto ↗)“counteract over-implementation in Sweden of EU decisions”
- focused development work»Fokusera det svenska biståndet till de länder, organisationer och tematiska områden där det gör störst nytta« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Focus Swedish development assistance to the countries, organisations and thematic areas where it does the most good”
The plan's trade policy starts from the fact that Swedish interests should be protected in free trade agreements and that global trade and Swedish export should be improved because they are fundamental to Swedish prosperity.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's trade policy starts from the fact that Swedish interests should be protected in free trade agreements and that global trade and Swedish export should be improved because they are fundamental to Swedish prosperity. Reworking trade agreements so that developing countries themselves should process raw materials based on poverty reduction makes development goals governing for trade policy. That lies outside the plan's direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planens handelspolitik utgår från att svenska intressen ska värnas i frihandelsavtal och att global handel och svensk export ska förbättras eftersom de är grundläggande för svenskt välstånd. Att omarbeta handelsavtalen så att utvecklingsländer själva ska förädla råvaror utifrån fattigdomsbekämpning gör bistånds- och utvecklingsmål till styrande för handelspolitiken. Det ligger utanför planens inriktning.
- Swedish interests in trade agreementsdecisive»Värna svenska intressen i frihandelsavtal« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect Swedish interests in free trade agreements”
- trade for Swedish prosperity»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 a matter of improving opportunities for global trade and Swedish export, which are fundamental to Swedish prosperity.”
- Swedish interests first»Sverigedemokraterna vill att inriktningen av utrikespolitiken i högre utsträckning än idag ska värna svenskarnas intressen på det globala planet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Sweden Democrats want the direction of foreign policy to a greater extent than today should protect Swedes' interests on the global stage.”
- free trade as starting point»Sverigedemokraterna är i grunden positiva till frihandel« (party programme ↗)“The Sweden Democrats are in principle positive to free trade”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:NU12)
- Committee report full text (HA01NU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1014 — Ett konkurrenskraftigt svenskt väginfrastruktursystem av Thomas Morell m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1061 — Upphävande av förbudet mot handel med sälprodukter av Sanne Lennström och Gustaf Lantz (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1090 — Handel med sälprodukter av Alexandra Anstrell (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1121 — Fler företag, fler jobb och stärkt konkurrenskraft i hela landet av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1206 — Export av snus i Europeiska unionen av Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1269 — Utökade handelsförbindelser och utbyte med Taiwan av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1497 — Skyddsjakt på säl och skarv av Lili André (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1673 — Jämställdhet för hållbar utveckling av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1758 — Afrikas horn av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1802 — Ökat handelsutbyte med Kosovo av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1879 — En fokuserad utvecklingsagenda bortom 2030 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1882 — En starkare liberal demokrati av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1952 — Strategi för ökad produktion och export av svensk mat av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2064 — Handel och exportfrämjande av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2144 — Satsningar på Stockholms skärgård av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2170 — För en stark grön näringslivsutveckling av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2190 — Ledarskap för klimat och grön omställning av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:2261 — En grön feministisk utvecklings- och biståndspolitik av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:547 — Utreda omfattningen av produkter som framkommit genom slavarbete av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:849 — Internationellt samarbete i en ny tid av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
Source: The Swedish Parliament