Donald Trump's trade strategy creates global concern when tariffs are imposed on 60 countries and paused within 24 hours. The tariffs hit low-income countries especially hard, opening the door for China. Maria Malmer Stenegard is questioned after her visit to Israel, and the government's new aid policy continues to be questioned by both experts and civil society.
Trump's new trade tariffs
US President Donald Trump's tariff policy has once again created debate. After imposing tariffs on 60 countries Trump chose to pause them just a day later. Today's News The editorial team highlights the situation as still uncertain.
– What happens when the deadline expires is impossible to know, they write, pointing out that 70 trade agreements are now to be renegotiated in 90 days.
Tariffs hit low-income countries particularly hard, writes Isobel Hadley-Kamptz in Dagens NyheterShe highlights how countries like Madagascar and Lesotho are now seeing their exports threatened – a development that risks undermining local economic growth.
Even liberal values are under threat, says economist Niclas Berggren in Svenska DagbladetGlobalization creates trust and openness, he writes, something that Trump's actions undermine.
The debate has also touched on how the EU, which paused its planned tariffs against the US this week, should act. The International Committee of the Free Moderate Student Union argues in Svenska Dagbladet because the EU should refuse to engage in a tariff war and instead deepen trade globally. Mattias Svensson writes in Svenska Dagbladet that the EU should lower its trade barriers against the US as a way to neutralize Trump's line.
Express Linda Jerneck believes that the trade war could be an opportunity for China, which is now strengthening its trade contacts with other countries.
– As the US withdraws from the world, China is stepping up pressure, especially against Africa, Patrik Oksanen also writes in Svenska DagbladetHe warns that behind China's statements and rhetoric about peaceful cooperation lies a dictatorship that does not respect human rights.
Maria Malmer Stenegard is urged to stand up for Palestinian rights
After 15 rescue workers were found dead in a mass grave in Gaza, harsh criticism is being directed at the government's silence.
– I wait and wait for the Swedish government to express its anger, its sadness. But the words are vague, the statements general. Writes Annie Croona in ETC.
She condemns the Foreign Minister's recent visit to Israel, where she wore the yellow ribbon which, according to Croona, is a symbol of Hamas hostages, but by extension also of Israel.
EU parliamentarians Hanna Gendin (V) and Jonas Sjöstedt (V) also criticize Stenegard's trip to Israel in a debate article in ETC. They also sharply criticize the Sweden Democrats' new proposal to fully support the US's attempts to move Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. They demand that Sweden and the EU immediately take action against Israel. Member of Parliament Jamal El-Haj also calls on the government to act differently in a debate article in expressen.
– A clear and resolute condemnation of the Israeli apartheid regime and a strong international commitment to protecting innocent Palestinian lives are required, he writes.
Continued dissatisfaction with new aid policy
The Swedish government's new aid policy has also been criticized this week. Part of the government's goal is increased control and management of aid, something that Gunnar Rundgren criticizes in ETC.
– Constantly new policies and governance principles were imposed from above, most of them to no avail. All the demands from above also counteract that local ownership that aid is claimed to strive for.
Today, part of the aid budget has been reallocated to the migration area, and according to Rundgren, money that was intended for the most vulnerable is now being used for deportations and repatriation. He wants to see us return to the one percent level as soon as possible.
Heike Erkers, chairwoman of the Swedish Academic Association SSR, takes it even further and writes in a debate in Everything that Sweden should increase aid, like Norway. She sees that when aid decreases, more of the responsibility falls on civil society – a responsibility they cannot bear themselves. Long-term state-funded support is also needed.
Trump's trade tariffs
Trump's pause is not enough – this is still a very dangerous situation
The editorial staff, Dagens Nyheter
Trump's tariffs punish some countries extra harshly – for completely the wrong reasons
Isobel Hadley-Kamptz, Dagens Nyheter
The action involves a double cost
Niclas Berggren, Associate Professor of Economics, Svenska Dagbladet
Let free trade become Europe's main weapon
Wictor Wallenius, Teodor Johansson, Malte Wilhelmsson, Filippa Althoff – International Committee of the Free Moderate Student Union, Svenska Dagbladet
We will not contribute to the customs madness
Mattias Svensson, Svenska Dagbladet
Trump's tariffs are an opportunity for China
Linda Jerneck, Expressen
Behind the propaganda is an iron fist
Patrik Oksanen, Svenska Dagbladet
Israel and Gaza
It is not neutral to silently observe an execution
Annie Croona, Etc.
I'm ashamed to be human in these times.
Jamal El-Haj, Member of Parliament, Expressen
Malmer Stenergard, you have the power to stop the genocide
Hanna Gedin and Jonas Sjöstedt, MEPs (V), ETC
Development aid policy
Do like Norway – increase aid
Heike Erkers, Chairwoman of the Swedish Academic Association, ETC
The government is distorting aid
Gunnar Rundgren, ETC
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