After US tariffs – Sweden establishes “customs service” for companies

Stockholm – The Swedish government will create a kind of customs hotline for companies that feel uncertain about the rules regarding the U.S. trade tariffs, says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

“It will help companies that haven’t kept up with every twist and turn lately,” he tells Swedish Radio.

“It will provide companies with exactly updated information about what applies right now. You can’t expect every exporting company to be glued to news screens all the time.”

In the past week, U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed, announced, and withdrawn trade tariffs at a furious pace, and the stock market has plummeted.

The EU is included when Trump pauses the punitive tariffs against countries that have not imposed retaliatory tariffs. This means that the EU, in addition to the already imposed new U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars, will “only” be affected by the so-called base tariffs of 10 percent, which the American president announced last week against all countries in the world.

Despite the pause, work continues simultaneously to develop further countermeasures.

“All options are still on the table,” according to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

It is an uncertain situation, but Kristersson is cautiously optimistic and the EU, as the world’s largest trading bloc, has a good negotiating position against the U.S.

(April 11)