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Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce of the USA, Inc.
e-Currents
October 2026
| | This newsletter contains news, updates and relevant information from the Swedish American Chambers of Commerce Inc. | | |
Dear Friends,
The U.S. midterms are fast approaching; a new Swedish government is also approaching, albeit perhaps not as fast as the midterms. This uncertainty is weighing on the business community, already laden with geopolitical events and other market-moving news.
Since 1980, roughly 70% of midterms have resulted in the party in power losing ground. This can create greater opportunities for bipartisan negotiation and collaboration, with policies reflecting perspectives from both sides of the aisle. Whether more bipartisan, blended and balanced, new policies impact individual businesses. At the same time, "markets" as a whole have reacted less to a likely party outcome, and more to the policy uncertainty as they price in the 2026 midterm elections. As Denise Chisholm, Director of Quantitative Market Strategy at Fidelity, put it, “As an investor, I wouldn’t do anything in anticipation of the midterms.... Elections have been a supplementary driver, not the core driver of stock market performance. Essentially, anything can happen."
The most determinative factors for market and business well-being are fundamentals including corporate earnings and profitability, and economic conditions such as GDP growth and employment. Swedish FDI and enterprising alone create more than 400,000 jobs in the U.S. and American companies in Sweden support approximately 100,000 jobs.
The definitive annual survey of the strength of the broader US–Europe transatlantic relationship, the Transatlantic Economy Report describes the relationship as the largest and most consequential in the world. More than $6.4 billion worth of goods and services cross the Atlantic every day. Johns Hopkins University’s Foreign Policy Institute and the American Chambers of Commerce in Europe have created strong baseline data having published the survey for now 23 years.
The relationship between Sweden and the U.S. has endured regardless of election outcomes. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed in 1783, establishing formal commercial and diplomatic relations between the United States and the Kingdom of Sweden. 243 years later, Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard reassured at a press conference with Denmark’s Foreign Minister on the Greenland dispute and US relations, that "Sweden has not broken up with the United States". Minister Malmer Stenergard reaffirmed the importance of maintaining cooperative transatlantic relations.
One avenue for maintaining cooperative transatlantic relations is the high-level SACC-USA Transatlantic Days in Gothenburg on November 3, Lund on December 1, and Stockholm on February 3. The thought leadership and business development programs will, as always, feature not-yet-published insights under the Chatham House Rule. We invite you to express your interest in the Transatlantic Day at program@sacc-usa.org.
The same transatlantic relations are undergirded through the basic premise of SACC-USA, namely, connecting Swedish innovation and business with U.S. markets. Note the plural form of "markets". While the U.S. is not geographically speaking a continent, it is, in many respects, a continent of rather distinct and varying market characteristics across the 50 U.S. States. The first question to ask when setting out for the continent is "what am I looking for". The answer, which could be land, a certain climate or a workforce skill (in addition to state level incentives such as favorable interest and tax rates) will help guide to the right state and new home. Through the geographical uptake of 20 regional chambers and offices, the SACC organization covers 37 of the 50 states.
Returning to the uncertainty we started out with in this month’s Word. Where there is uncertainty, there are always statistics to lean on. Chisholm also notes that the year following midterm elections has produced a positive 12-month market return roughly 95% of the time since 1930. We thought that we'd leave you on a positive note.
Warm regards,
| | karin.hammar@sacc-usa.org +1 202 415 1899 | | |
P.S. 1. The high-level SACC-USA Transatlantic Days in Gothenburg on November 3, Lund on December 1, and Stockholm on February 3 will, as always, provide not-yet-published insights and strategies to capitalize on them. To express your interest in participating in these thought leadership and business development programs, please contact Kristian Letino at program@sacc-usa.org
P.S. 2. At the annual SACC Summit,, this year in Austin, November 10-11, you can explore opportunities with our regional chambers and other members. The program will deliver tools and reveal the mindset needed to take on AI as it evolves. You can register here and still be an early adopter!
P.S. 3 Become a SACC-USA member for 2027 by Monday, October 12, and receive membership for Q4 2026 at no additional cost. This includes participation in the SACC Summit in Austin November 10-11 and the Transatlantic Days in Gothenburg on November 3 and in Lund on December 1. The combined value of the three programs amounts to your membership fee while you still have access to the 2027 programs at no additional cost. We invite you to explore how our programs and a SACC-USA membership can support your business goals. Please write us at memberservices@sacc-usa.org
| | Join us as a Strategic Partner | | |
We are looking for a Strategic Partner to feature in connection with our thought leadership programs and flagship events. The Strategic Partner gets ample visibility including a speaker role and the opportunity to shape the event. Additionally, they dispose of 15 seats for their guests.
The by-invitation ideation programs uncover not-published actionable insights and address the most pressing questions of the day. Programs typically showcase selected verticals along with a geopolitical outlook, economic and markets outlook along with an update from the White House.
| | Upcoming Events and Programs | | SACC-USA is pleased to invite you to a webinar with the Embassy of Sweden on The U.S.-Sweden Tarriff Intelligence and Advisory Platform: How Swedish Companies Can Access Support. | | |
Mathias Hultgren, Economic Counselor and Head of Trade and Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, D.C., and Felicia Stéen, Project Manager and U.S. Policy Lead at Business Sweden in New York, will discuss U.S. tariffs, their implications for Swedish companies, and use of the tariff platform.
The webinar will take place on October 14 at 10:00 a.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. CET.
No registration is required. Join the webinar via Microsoft Teams using the link attached.
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We are now just a month away from this year’s SACC Summit which will take place November 10-12 at the Joe C. Thompson Conference Center at the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas.
Sweden and the U.S. are coming together in Austin to explore how to build a human-centered future together. As technology moves faster than ever, the 2026 SACC Summit asks leaders to step back and focus on the people behind the progress.For the full program, speakers, registration, and additional information, visit SACC Texas.
If you're interested in sponsorship, please contact texas@sacctx.com for more information.
| | Transatlantic Days 2026 - 2027 | | |
Transatlantic Days, our leading platform for thought leadership and business event, is just around the corner. As always, the events will bring together distinguished speakers and a high-caliber audience.
- Gothenburg, November 3 — Transatlantic Day at Mannheimer Swartling
Register
- Lund, December 1 — Transatlantic Day with the Mayor
Register
- Stockholm, February 3 — Transatlantic Day at NASDAQ with White House Correspondent Jon Decker
We have a limited number of partner slots remaining for organizations that would like to be featured in the program. Contact us to learn more.
| | More information regarding the Executive Forum will be released soon. | | |
INSIDE SACC SUMMIT 2026:
A CONVERSATION WITH RIKARD BLOMBERG
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HUMANITY IN THE AGE OF AI
Ahead of this year's SACC Summit in Austin, we spoke with Rikard Blomberg, President of SACC-Texas, about the program, the people coming together, and what he hopes attendees will take away from the Summit.
This year's SACC Summit is centered around the theme “Humanity in the Age of AI.” What can attendees expect from this year's program?
First of all, a good time. We kick things off on the evening of November 10 at Eleiko Sport here in Austin with Texas barbecue and live music, which felt like the right way to say welcome.
November 11 is the main day, at the Joe C. Thompson Conference Center on the UT campus. You'll hear from Consul General Anna Hammarlund Blixt, from Johan Karlberg at Business Sweden on trade between our two countries, and a keynote from Brett Hurt, who has built several companies right here in Austin. There are panels on breaking into the U.S. market and on leadership, a session on how to take care of your team, and plenty of time to talk in between.
As for the theme, everyone is talking about what AI can do. We wanted to spend a day talking about what it means for the people doing the work, running the companies and making the decisions.
What makes Texas/Austin an interesting place for Swedish companies and professionals doing business in the U.S.?
I came here from Sweden myself, so I can speak from experience. Texas is a huge market on its own, with over 30 million people, no state income tax and a state that actively wants companies to come. Austin has grown enormously over the last fifteen years, with tech, semiconductors and manufacturing moving in, a strong startup scene and a university that turns out talented people every year.
But what I usually tell people is that it's the attitude. People here are open. If you ask for a meeting, you usually get one, and if you have a good idea, people want to hear it. There's also something familiar about Austin for a Swede. People care about being outdoors, about family and about doing things properly. And the winters are a lot easier to live with.
With leaders from business, government, academia, and the broader SACC network coming together, what are you hoping will come out of the conversations and connections made during the Summit?
Real follow-ups. I'd love to hear six months from now that two people who met in Austin did a deal together, or hired each other, or that a Swedish company decided to set up in Texas because of a conversation over lunch. Every conference produces a stack of business cards and good intentions. The connections that count are the ones where somebody picks up the phone the week after. We've built the program with long breaks, shared meals and evening events to give that a chance to happen.
I also hope people leave with a clearer head about AI. Not a finished plan, just a better sense of what they want to do about it in their own company and with their own people
I hope people leave with new contacts, and I hope a few of them come back. So come to Austin in November. Register, bring a colleague and let us show you around. Välkommen!
| Read reviews of SACC-USA and our programs here | | CHINA SHOCK 2.0: SWEDEN RISKS GETTING INTO TROUBLE | |
By: Andre Pearson, former Chair of SACC-Houston
(Picture: Tidningen Naringslivet)
In his latest column for Tidningen Näringslivet, André Persson explores how growing tensions between the U.S., Europe and China are creating new challenges for Swedish companies. Using the automotive industry as an example, he examines how Chinese ownership, technology, and supply chains are
increasingly viewed through a national security lens in the U.S.- and what this could mean for Swedish businesses seeking access to the American market. Read more here.
About the Author
André Persson is an entrepreneur, communications consultant, author and former chairman of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in Houston
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WHAT CAN AN INTERNATIONAL TRAINEE BRING TO A U.S. TEAM?
After a year in Washington D.C. with SACC-USA, Frederik Caesar continued his journey in the U.S. with Business Sweden in Chicago. He shares how his experience shaped his professional development and what international trainees can bring to a U.S. team.
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Tell us a little about yourself:
I'm originally from Gothenburg, Sweden, where I earned both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from the School of Business, Economics, and Law at the University of Gothenburg. Having previously studied abroad in Germany, I wanted to build on my international experience while gaining a deeper understanding of the U.S. business environment and expanding my professional network. This motivated me to apply to SACC-USA.
I spent the past year in Washington, D.C., working in Member Services at SACC-USA. From there, I transitioned to my current role as an Associate at Business Sweden in Chicago.
What skills and perspectives did you develop at SACC-USA that have been valuable to your work in the U.S.?
One of the main things I developed at SACC-USA was how to network and communicate in a U.S. business environment. I noticed that professional conversations in the U.S. often begin more informally than what I was used to in Sweden, with people taking time to get to know each other before moving into business discussions. Through SACC-USA, I became more comfortable approaching people, having conversations and building professional relationships.
I also developed a better understanding of the Swedish-American business community and the Team Sweden network. Having already been exposed to this environment through SACC-USA was valuable when I moved into my role at Business Sweden in Chicago, and helped me feel more prepared to work within the Swedish-American business community.
What can an international trainee bring to a host company?
An international trainee can bring a fresh perspective and a different way of looking at things. In my case, I was able to bring a Swedish and European perspective, along with the experience and education I had gained before coming to the U.S.
I also think the network you build through an organization like SACC-USA can be valuable. During my time there, I had the opportunity to connect with senior professionals, chambers of commerce, and the Embassy. Having those connections, as well as being comfortable having open conversations with people at different levels, can be valuable beyond the specific tasks of the role.
Connect with him here:
Frederik Caesar
LinkedIn
READY TO GROW YOUR TEAM? Consider an intern.
Contact SACCTraineProgram@sacc-usa.org to learn more
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