Summarized Content and Humanized Version:
At today’s press conference, the European Union Official for Employment, Johan Britz, emphasized the potential consequences of the simplified customs agreement between the United States and Sweden and its impact on Swedish companies. Britz noted that approximately 41,000 individuals work directly in companies that export unlawfully to the U.S., and these employees might face increased customs duties. However, the full array of negative effects has not yet been fully understood.
Britz highlighted that this limitation stems from incomplete statistics, and the implications extend beyond direct costs to indirect worst-case scenarios. For example, printbars, shipping labels, trucking companies, and products sold through manufacturers’ distribution networks could face turmoil. However, Britz stress that the current assessment on the number of affected jobs is modest, and there is no clear indication of how many actually risk disappearing.
The affected sectors include the wood and pulp industry, where wood is a major raw material, and the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, which rely heavily on exact specifications of products. Additionally, automotive plants are a significant contributor to the burden of potential consequences. Britz pointed out that these companies interact directly with foreign audiences, likely raising the risk of increased trade restrictions. On the other hand, the automotive sector operates by producing its own vehicles, making it less directly affected.
While Sweden is aware of the high risk of increased import duties, Britz is cautious and suggests that the broader economic impact might not be as severe as the initial assessment suggests. He emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue and preparedness to protect the integrity of labor markets and EU innovations.
Contrary to laboratory testing, the press conference rejected the idea that vocational training or employer planning would mitigate these worst-case scenarios. Sweden must remain vigilant and protect its workforce from the unintended consequences of the customs agreement.
