Global trade research
Our insights and original research shine a light on global trade trends and issues through a balanced and objective perspective. We highlight the conditions for making trade more sustainable.
Featured research and programs
Trade topics
Sustainable trade
238 articles & resources | 105 experts
Trade should deliver mutually acceptable benefits between trading partners and achieve balanced economic, societal, and environmental outcomes.
Explore our topical research, including the Sustainable Trade Index, which measures the capacity of economies to participate in international trade in a manner that supports the long-term domestic and global goals of economic growth, environmental protection, and better social equity.
The STI 2024 is the sixth edition of the index.
Trade and geopolitics
120 articles & resources | 79 experts
Trade and geopolitics are deeply interdependent, driven by nations’ shared economic interests in the global political landscape. As these common interests grow stronger, the root of their relationship deepens accordingly. This intricate relationship serves as a vital thread that weaves together economic interests, resource accessibility, trade route control, regional integration, and the pursuit of geopolitical goals.
Digital trade
125 articles & resources | 79 experts
Open digital trade and cross-border data flows create opportunities for more inclusive growth, particularly in emerging markets. But the rise of 'data sovereignty' is threating to fragment the global digital economy and limit the potential of new technologies. Explore our topical research, which includes a series of in-depth reports, essays, and infographic with a particular focus on data governance and trade facilitation.
Foreign direct investment
72 articles & resources | 41 experts
Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been crucial in supporting developing economies to participate in global trade by facilitating the flow of capital, talents, and knowledge. To understand its transformational power, we measure FDI's impact on economic growth in the Asia Pacific region, and discuss policies for maximizing its benefits. For evidence of FDI's impact, we look no further than China in our infographic and a series of comprehensive papers.
Trade distortion and protectionism
112 articles & resources | 57 experts
Protectionism is on the rise, after decades of market opening and globalization. Understand the causes and effects of tariffs, quotas, export controls, trade sanctions, currency manipulation and other non-tariff measures on trade, globalization, competition and consumer welfare.
Such protectionism is usually implemented by governments to shield their domestic producers. The resulting distortions adversely impact international trade flows and economic efficiencies.
US-China trade
234 articles & resources | 90 experts
The US-China trade war is one aspect of the intensifying US-China geopolitical rivalry. US-China trade tensions and their effect on global value chains will impact industry structures, investment, innovation and consumer welfare across the world. Explore topical research, including our book China, Trade and Power by Research Fellow Stewart Paterson.
WTO
97 articles & resources | 36 experts
The World Trade Organization and its predecessors have spurred the growth of international trade and global engagement since the 1940’s. But WTO rules now need to evolve to adjudicate modern and more complex trade frictions. WTO reform has become essential to ensure the continued existence of a rules-based system to organize global trade flows.
Trade and technology
123 articles & resources | 61 experts
The intensifying strategic competition between China and the US for dominance in the industries of the future may force a bifurcation of technology standards and shifts in global value chains. This competition is also giving rise to techno-nationalist policies that will impact trade, innovation, competitiveness and the world economy at large.
Free trade agreements
91 articles & resources | 48 experts
Free trade agreements can remove trade barriers and increase the flow of goods and services between countries. We assess various agreements – whether multilateral, plurilateral or bilateral – to understand how FTAs can impact the global economy and individual countries.
Current Accounts: The Hinrich Foundation Trade Podcast
18 articles & resources | 17 experts
The current account, in economics terminology, principally represents a nation’s imports and exports. The Hinrich Foundation’s Current Accounts podcast series brings our conversation on global trade policy forward. Our regular series is hosted by Research Fellow Stewart Paterson, with occasional special editions featuring our other partners. Delve into all aspects of trade, from the waning of globalization to the rise of protectionism, from US-China relations to the nexus between non-tariff barriers and horse breeding. Tune in to hear us chat on the latest thinking for policy makers, businesses, educators, and more.
What we are reading
86 articles & resources | 6 experts
At the Hinrich Foundation, we are continually searching for ways to advance sustainable and mutually beneficial global trade. We have curated this collection of recent articles, essays, and reports that detail these important developments about global trade.
All statements of fact and the views, conclusions and recommendations expressed in the articles are the sole responsibility of the author(s).
How to use it
32 articles & resources | 0 experts
The Hinrich Foundation’s How to use it guides help readers extract concise insight from trade-related reports published by the world’s leading international trade organizations and think-tanks.
They are structured to quickly provide key takeaways by highlighting what is in each report, identifying key insights, and outlining conclusions. Complementary reports and analysis are also suggested as additional research resources.
Our experts & contributors
Get access to proven experience and fresh thinking in cross-border trade, policy and business. Drawn from a wide range of disciplines and sectors, our experts offer valuable views and opinions on achieving sustainable global trade.
Stephen Olson
From 2014 to January 2024, Mr. Olson was a Senior Research Fellow of the Hinrich Foundation. Mr. Olson began his career in Washington DC as an international trade negotiator and served on the US negotiating team for the NAFTA negotiations.
Areas of expertise
Sustainable trade
WTO
Trade negotiations
Free trade agreements
Tariffs & non-tariff barriers
Alex Capri
Alex Capri is a research fellow at the Hinrich Foundation and a lecturer in the Business School at the National University of Singapore. He also teaches at the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Areas of expertise
Technology and trade
Global value chains
Tariffs and non-tariff barriers
Stewart Paterson
Stewart Paterson is a Senior Research Fellow at the Hinrich Foundation who spent 25 years in capital markets as an equity researcher, strategist and fund manager, working for Credit Suisse, CLSA and most recently, as a Partner and Portfolio Manager of Tiburon Partners LLP.
Areas of expertise
Macroeconomics
Monetary policy
Political economy
Alan Dupont
Dr. Alan Dupont is a Senior Research Fellow at the Hinrich Foundation and CEO of the Cognoscenti Group, a geopolitical risk consultancy. He has been named by the Australian Financial Review as one of Australia’s leading strategists.
Areas of expertise
International relations
Geopolitics
China and East-Asia