Summary:
US President Donald Trump’s statements on trade policy have targeted the WTO and caused concern with their protectionist stance. However, Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of the WTO, is not concerned because there are no signs of any massive increase in protectionism. In Finland, Trump’s policies cause concern. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen believes it is possible that the United States will assume more protectionist policies in the short term, which would harm the Finnish economy dependent on exports. However, Mr Mykkänen expects the United States to return to free trade sooner or later because the country has been a clear winner in the liberation of world trade and US companies are among the most global in the world.

Summary:
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has published the second part of its three-report series evaluating development cooperation and humanitarian aid funded by the ministry. According to the report, the development cooperation done by NGOs corresponds to people’s needs and the guidelines of Finland’s development policies. It is still recommended that collaboration between NGOs, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and embassies is increased. According to the ministry, it is difficult to evaluate the long-term effects of development cooperation done by NGOs as no systematic data has been collected.

Media:  Satakunnan Kansa
Date: 21.3.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: –

Summary:
Five million euros worth of Finnish development aid funds have been invested by state-owned development aid company Finnfund in the forest fund Dasos Timberland Fund I, which a report by NGO Finnwatch claims can be involved in aggressive tax planning or even illegal tax evasion. Minister for Development Kai Mykkänen says the demands for Finnfund have already been tightened but that no guidelines can remove all risk of misuse of development aid funds. He points out that misuse of funds unfortunately happens when acting in countries that often are fragile and corrupt, irrespective of the form of development aid. According to Mr Mykkänen, it is important to react to every instance of suspected misuse but introducing a preventive zero tolerance would not be productive.

Summary:
Finland has announced an additional aid of 20 million euros to organisations supporting the sexual and reproductive health of girls and women in developing countries. Several other EU countries have also pledged to fill the void caused by President Trump’s policies. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen says intervening in the situation is the only way to prevent the disaster of girls dying because of the lack of reproductive health.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat
Date: 2.3.2017
Journalist: Pekka Mykkänen
Main source: Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen

Summary:
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen met with State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung Sang Suu Kyi in Naypyitaw on 9 February. In the meeting, Mr. Mykkänen raised the issue of violence in the Rakhine state and the distress of the Rohingya people and stated that Finland does not accept it and that it affects the credibility of the civil administration. Mr. Mykkänen referred to Finland’s development cooperation projects in Myanmar and said he made it clear that Finland is in the country to support work for democracy and the peace process. Mr. Mykkänen travelled to Myanmar with a trade delegation and he estimates that Myanmar has the potential of becoming a growth area that will also benefit Finnish trade.

Summary:
According to Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen, the decision by the European Parliament to vote for approving the CETA free trade deal between EU and Canada is very good news for Finland as it will make it easier for Finnish businesses to get into the Canadian market. He says that more leadership is expected from the EU in the current situation. The EU must be more active in order to create free trade deals which benefit companies and consumers.

Media:  Verkkouutiset / Nykypäivä
Date: 15.2.2017
Journalist: Heikki Jantunen
Main source: Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen

Summary:

UN organisations and NGOs appealed for more aid to Syrian refugees and the neighbouring countries that assist them in a conference held in Helsinki today, 24 January. The Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen, who hosted the conference, said that in Finland and Europe the word ‘refugee’ is currently associated with young men even though 70% of the refugees in Syria’s neighbouring countries are women and children. Finland is supporting victims of the Syrian conflict both through humanitarian aid and development co-operation which has been used to e.g. enable children to go to school and support the livelihood and rights of refugee women.

Summary:

Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen estimates that US President Donald Trump did not give any concrete promises in his inaugural speech that would have immediate effects on co-operation. Mr Mykkänen is confident that a certain realism will set in as Mr Trump and his administration start their work. He comments on Mr Trump’s trade policies which he says seem to forget that industrial production in the United States has actually doubled since the 1980s while job losses are mainly caused by technological changes. Mr Mykkänen says that Mr Trump’s protectionist sentiment combined with the anti-trade populism around the western world are a cause of worry for Finland who lives off free export.