Week 14: Criticism of Swedish diplomacy, Trump escalates the trade war and gender equality recedes in aid

This week, the journalist's continued imprisonment in Turkey, Trump's rollout of global staff tariffs, and reflections on global gender equality work have dominated the debate. Image: Collage in Canva.

Of: Meklit Teklu and Nora Sargin

Previous vThe debate in the corner has been characterized by demands to bring back the imprisoned journalist Joakim Medin and criticism of Sweden's quiet diplomacy. At the same time, USA newly introduced customs aroused strong reactions. Ballowance policy has also been on the agenda, and not least gender equality work, in the surge after the annual meeting of the UN Commission on Women.  

April 8, 2025, Current debate

Week 13: Debators criticize US power play in Greenland and trade policy

This week, the debate on global issues has revolved around how the EU should respond to the Trump administration's trade policy, the US's actions against Greenland, and developments in Turkey following the imprisonment of opposition leader Imamoglu. Image: collage in Canva.

Of: Meja Roberg and Olle Hoög

US Vice President JD Vance's brief visit to Greenland has once again set the stagen at the center of a geopolitical tug-of-war. At the same time, Donald Trump continues Trumps tariff policy to create concern in Europe, where experts warn of the long-term consequences of the trade war. In Turkey, the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imomoglu raised international attention, but EU leaders have so far been conspicuously silent.

April 1, 2025, Current debate

The EU is torn between its farmers and support for Ukraine

Margarethe (left) and Alice (right) are both beef farmers from the Netherlands. They have gathered in Brussels with other farmers to demonstrate against the EU's free trade agreement with Ukraine. Image: Jakob Kerren.

Of: Jakob Kerren

Intensive peasant protests has put EU politicians under pressure. The farmers are angry about the Union's free trade agreement with third countries. The problem is only that one of the the countries are Ukraine - who need every penny in the war against Russia.  

May 13, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

Agreement between the EU and Great Britain to prevent tensions in Northern Ireland

In the spring, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the new 'Windsor Framework', which replaces the former Northern Ireland Protocol. Photo: UK Prime Minister. Source: Flickr.

Of: Amanda Rossling

Britain and the EU agree a framework for Northern Ireland and Ireland, after lengthy discussions on the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol - which was signed when the UK left the EU. The framework will simplify trade in the UK and be a means of avoiding tensions between Northern Ireland and Ireland. 

May 12, 2023, Development magazine explains

Week 15: NATO debate after Russian escalation and China boycott H&M

Last year, H&M stopped buying cotton from the Chinese region of Xinjiang after reports of forced labor.

Of: Melanie Alphonse

During the past week, the relationship between Russia and Ukraine has attracted attention after upwards of 85 Russian soldiers were transferred to the border with Ukraine. The course of events has contributed to a debate about both Ukraine's and Sweden's possible membership in the NATO defense alliance. China's boycott has also sparked debate about Sweden's trade with China.

April 19, 2021, Current debate

Let's take control of the food

Large-scale and small-scale agriculture

Today's large - scale food production is bad for both people and the environment, writes Lisa Tover.

Of: Lisa Tover

The global food industry creates everything from hunger and devastation of rainforest to obesity and large emissions of greenhouse gases. Profit interests rule and a few giant companies completely dominate. Now we have to take back control of the food and shorten the path from farm to fork, writes Lisa Tover from the association Framtidsjorden.

June 4, 2020, Debate

Use trade to pressure the regime in Cambodia

Clothing store in Cambodia

Cambodia is a major exporter of textile products and H&M is one of the largest buyers.

Of: Åsa Eriksson

In recent years, Cambodia has gone against a dictatorship. Independent media have been shut down, the opposition party has been banned and critics of the regime have been imprisoned. At the same time, we import clothes and other goods cheaply from the country. It is good that the EU is now changing its favorable trade agreement with Cambodia, writes the Social Democrats' trade policy spokesperson Åsa Eriksson.

March 23, 2020, Debate

New peace threats require new trade policies

Deforestation in Brazil and the debater Lina Arvidsson.

When we buy meat from Brazil, it increases the risk of deforestation. Therefore, the meat trade should be outside the EU's new free trade agreement with Mercosur, writes Lina Arvidsson. Photo: Vinícius Mendonça / Ibama (CC BY 2.0 License)

Of: Lina Arvidsson

The EU has, since its inception, lived on the idea that trade can ensure peace. In a changing world, the EU must tackle new threats to global peace - namely climate change. This requires a new trade policy. The free trade agreement with the South American countries in Mercosur may mark a turnaround, writes Lina Arvidsson.

November 13, 2019, Debate