Stockholm seeks EU membership in Pacific trade pact to counter US protectionism

Sweden announced on May 14 that it plans to formally propose that the European Union seek membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a major trade bloc centred around the Pacific rim.

The aim, Stockholm says, is to help establish the world's largest free trade area and counterbalance the growing protectionism of the United States under President Donald Trump, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa, revealed the proposal in an interview with Reuters from Japan, where he is currently on a trade mission across several Asian countries. "If the EU and the CPTPP as trade groups link together, it would create the biggest free-trade area in the whole world," Dousa said.

The CPTPP, which came into force in 2018, includes 11 countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The United Kingdom joined the group in 2023, and China has also expressed a desire to join.

Dousa argued that the current global environment, shaped by Trump’s protectionist trade policies and aggressive tariffs, is an opportune moment for Europe to take a more outward-looking, pro-trade approach. “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.

He confirmed that Sweden will present the proposal for EU accession to the CPTPP during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on May 15. Export-oriented Sweden has long been one of the strongest advocates of free trade within the 27-member bloc.

However, Dousa acknowledged that not all EU countries are likely to be as enthusiastic. “We are ready to take up the fight with countries like France,” he said, referring to France’s traditionally more protectionist stance, particularly when it comes to safeguarding its agricultural sector.

Dousa suggested that rather than negotiating a comprehensive deal all at once, the EU could approach CPTPP membership incrementally, pursuing agreements sector-by-sector or industry-by-industry. This, he said, could lead to “concrete agreements” being reached more quickly than a broad multilateral deal might otherwise allow.

"This is existential for Sweden,” Dousa added. “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."

The European Union already has, or is in the process of negotiating, bilateral trade agreements with almost all current CPTPP member states, a fact which Dousa believes could help smooth the path to eventual EU accession.

By Tamilla Hasanova