Latest news with #Dousa
Canada Standard
17-05-2025
- Business
- Canada Standard
Sweden to propose EU membership of Pacific rim free trade group CPTPP
STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Sweden plans to propose that the European Union join the Pacific Rim trading bloc, the CPTPP, aiming to create the world's largest free trade area in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies. Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa announced the proposal during a trade trip to Japan, stating that linking the EU with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would provide significant economic opportunities. "If the EU and the CPTPP as trade groups link together, it would create the biggest free-trade area in the whole world," Dousa told Reuters. "At a time when the U.S. is closing itself off more and more and becoming inward-looking, there are good opportunities for Europe to open itself up to investment and trade." The CPTPP, formed in 2018, includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The UK joined the pact last year, and China has also expressed interest in joining. Sweden's proposal was tabled at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday. However, Dousa acknowledged that some member states, including France, may resist the idea due to protectionist concerns, particularly in the agricultural sector. While negotiations could take time, Dousa suggested a phased approach that would allow sector-specific agreements to be implemented more quickly. "For Sweden, this is existential," he said. "If we want to afford our healthcare, schools, and social services, our exporters must have more markets to sell to." The EU already has or is negotiating trade agreements with most CPTPP members, but a broader pact could deepen market access and offset the impact of U.S. trade restrictions.
Malaysia Sun
17-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Sweden to propose EU membership of Pacific rim free trade group CPTPP
STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Sweden plans to propose that the European Union join the Pacific Rim trading bloc, the CPTPP, aiming to create the world's largest free trade area in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies. Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa announced the proposal during a trade trip to Japan, stating that linking the EU with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would provide significant economic opportunities. "If the EU and the CPTPP as trade groups link together, it would create the biggest free-trade area in the whole world," Dousa told Reuters. "At a time when the U.S. is closing itself off more and more and becoming inward-looking, there are good opportunities for Europe to open itself up to investment and trade." The CPTPP, formed in 2018, includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The UK joined the pact last year, and China has also expressed interest in joining. Sweden's proposal was tabled at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday. However, Dousa acknowledged that some member states, including France, may resist the idea due to protectionist concerns, particularly in the agricultural sector. While negotiations could take time, Dousa suggested a phased approach that would allow sector-specific agreements to be implemented more quickly. "For Sweden, this is existential," he said. "If we want to afford our healthcare, schools, and social services, our exporters must have more markets to sell to." The EU already has or is negotiating trade agreements with most CPTPP members, but a broader pact could deepen market access and offset the impact of U.S. trade restrictions.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sweden to propose EU membership of Pacific rim free trade group CPTPP
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden said on Tuesday it would propose that the European Union join a Pacific rim-based trading group with the aim of forming the world's biggest free trade area to help counter the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a free trade accord sealed in 2018 between 11 countries - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Britain joined last year and China also hopes to join. "If the EU and the CPTPP as trade groups link together it would create the biggest free-trade area in the whole world," Sweden's Minister for Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa, told Reuters by phone from Japan. "At a time when the U.S. is closing itself off more and more and becoming inward-looking there are good opportunities for Europe to open itself up... to investment and trade," he said. Trump's tariff blitz has upended decades of trade practice, shaken faith in traditional alliances and raised fears of a global recession. Dousa, who is currently on a trade trip to several Asian countries, said Sweden would make its proposal on joining the CPTPP at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Thursday in Brussels. Export-dependent Sweden is one of the strongest supporters of free trade inside the 27-nation EU, though Dousa said he expected some member states to be less keen on a CPTPP deal. "We are ready to take up the fight with countries like France," he said. France has traditionally been more protectionist-minded, especially regarding agricultural produce. While negotiations could take some time, Dousa said it might be possible to conduct negotiations sector-by-sector and industry-by-industry, meaning concrete agreements could be in place relatively quickly. "This is existential for Sweden. If we want to be able to afford our healthcare, schools and social services here in Sweden... our exporters must have more markets to sell to," said Dousa. The EU already has or is negotiating bilateral agreements with almost all CPTPP members.
Reuters
13-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Sweden to propose EU membership of Pacific rim free trade group CPTPP
STOCKHOLM, May 13 (Reuters) - Sweden said on Tuesday it would propose that the European Union join a Pacific rim-based trading group with the aim of forming the world's biggest free trade area to help counter the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a free trade accord sealed in 2018 between 11 countries - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Britain joined last year and China also hopes to join. "If the EU and the CPTPP as trade groups link together it would create the biggest free-trade area in the whole world," Sweden's Minister for Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa, told Reuters by phone from Japan. "At a time when the U.S. is closing itself off more and more and becoming inward-looking there are good opportunities for Europe to open itself up... to investment and trade," he said. Trump's tariff blitz has upended decades of trade practice, shaken faith in traditional alliances and raised fears of a global recession. Dousa, who is currently on a trade trip to several Asian countries, said Sweden would make its proposal on joining the CPTPP at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Thursday in Brussels. Export-dependent Sweden is one of the strongest supporters of free trade inside the 27-nation EU, though Dousa said he expected some member states to be less keen on a CPTPP deal. "We are ready to take up the fight with countries like France," he said. France has traditionally been more protectionist-minded, especially regarding agricultural produce. While negotiations could take some time, Dousa said it might be possible to conduct negotiations sector-by-sector and industry-by-industry, meaning concrete agreements could be in place relatively quickly. "This is existential for Sweden. If we want to be able to afford our healthcare, schools and social services here in Sweden... our exporters must have more markets to sell to," said Dousa. The EU already has or is negotiating bilateral agreements with almost all CPTPP members.
Local Sweden
02-05-2025
- Business
- Local Sweden
EXPLAINED: How Sweden's national brand is 'relatively weak' in India
Sweden has a 'relatively weak brand' in India, and to the extent that it is known at all, the country is not associated with having a stable economy or being a good place to study, visit, invest or do business, a new report from the Swedish Institute has found. Advertisement The 2025 report on Sweden's national brand found that Sweden was viewed considerably less favourably in India than in Brazil, China, the UK, the US, Japan or Germany. Sweden's brand was only weaker in one of the other eight major markets studied – Saudi Arabia. "Sweden is not that well-known and is seen as not being strong in the areas that generate positive opinions of other countries, such as having a strong and stable economy, products and brands in high demand, as well as being easy to do business with," the report, which is based on data from the Global Soft Power Index, reported on Indian perceptions. "There is a lot of potential here for Sweden to strengthen its brand to increase the attraction of Sweden as a business partner." Advertisement Sweden's trade minister Benjamin Dousa, speaking at an event held to launch Sweden's new branding strategy, said that Sweden needed to reinforce its image internationally as being an "open and freedom-loving country", pushing to lower tariffs and make trade easier at a time when other countries were pushing in the opposite direction. "A strong image of Sweden is essential for the competitiveness of Swedish companies and to combat misleading information about Sweden," he said in a press release. "Our message to the world should be clear: with Sweden what you get is a reliable and innovative partner which is good at cooperating." Where does Sweden fall behind in India? The biggest difference between Sweden's image in India compared to that of other countries was precisely in the perception of "reliability", which Dousa wanted to foreground and which is a quality on which Sweden and Swedish products are generally highly rated in other key markets such as the US, UK and Germany. Indians, though, rank Sweden only 31 in terms of reliability, whereas on average globally the country is ranked a much more impressive 3. It's a similar case with issues around corruption and good governance. Whereas Sweden is ranked 3 on average globally for having "high ethical standards and low corruption", in India the country scores a much worse 17. Globally it is ranked on average 2 on being "politically stable and well-governed" but in India it scores a lacklustre 36. While Sweden is widely praised for the quality of its education system, receiving a mark of 5 on average globally, in India, Sweden's education system is rated a middling 27. Sweden even falls behind on lifestyle issues in Indians' perception. Whereas the good work-life balance Sweden offers brings it a top-level ranking of 2 of for "attractive lifestyle" globally, in India it scores just 22. IN STATS: Advertisement Sweden and India have both attempted to strengthen their ties in recent years. With more than 280 Swedish companies active in India, Swedish exports to India last year amounted to 22 billion kronor, an increase of 17 percent compared to 2023. In the same period, Sweden imports from India increased 16 percent to 13 billion kronor. And all is not totally lost. On some qualities, such as "being influential in culture and entertainment" and "having products and brand the world loves", the appraisal of Indians, while still lower than the global average, is at least close to normal (19, compared to a global 16). Sweden is also on average seen slightly more favourably by Indians than Denmark and Finland, and only slightly worse than Norway. It is also slightly better known than the other Nordics. Why do you think Sweden has a relatively weak brand in India? Is Sweden's poor image justified? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
