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27 May 2025
Sweden Proposes EU Accession to CPTPP to Counter U.S. Tariff Pressures
Sweden has announced plans to propose that the European Union join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) - a strategic move aimed at establishing the world's largest free trade area and offsetting the effects of U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump.
Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Johan Forssell, stated that if the EU and the CPTPP bloc were to align as a unified trading group, it would create the largest free trade area in the world, offering significant economic and geopolitical leverage.
"In a time when the United States is becoming increasingly closed and inward-looking," Forssell noted, "Europe is presented with a unique opportunity to champion openness in trade and investment."
Trump's tariff-driven trade policies have upended decades of established norms, shaken confidence in traditional alliances, and fueled concerns over a looming global economic slowdown. Sweden's proposal will be formally presented at the upcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday.
As one of the EU's most vocal proponents of free trade, Sweden sees CPTPP membership as a strategic response to growing global protectionism. However, Forssell acknowledged that not all member states may be as enthusiastic. Countries such as France, for example, have historically favored protectionist measures, particularly in the agricultural sector.
Despite potential opposition, Sweden hopes the proposal will open the door to a broader dialogue on the future of EU trade policy and its role in shaping global economic governance.
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