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Economic research in the 21st century has made important new contributions to our understanding of international trade. Yet, significant gaps remain between empirical research and trade policy. The 2025 Heckscher-Ohlin conference aims to bridge contemporary research and policymaking by bringing together leading trade economists and practitioners. The ultimate goal is to make trade policy more firmly evidence-based.

With 2025 marking a new era for international trade, this year’s conference will focus on the challenges arising from this shift. How can we restore rules-based trade when its original architect now seems to be turning away from it?

The conference is jointly organised by the National Board of Trade Sweden and the Center for Asian Studies at the Stockholm School of Economics.

Programme
08.00–08.50 Registration and coffee

08.50–09.00 The need for evidence-based trade policy
Benjamin Dousa, Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade

09.00–09.10 Welcome address
Sofie Roy, Senior Executive Vice President of the Stockholm School of Economics
Anders Ahnlid, Director-General at the National Board of Trade Sweden

09.10–09.50 Research keynote address: Navigating international trade in a new era
Pol Antràs, Professor of Economics Harvard University

09.50–10.30 Policy keynote address: Creating a rule-based trading system for a new era
Arancha González, Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs, former minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Spain

10.30-11.00 Coffee break

11.00–12.10 Lessons from history – trade wars and protection
Kevin O´Rourke, Professor of Economics, Science Po Paris
Edouard Bourcieu, Chief Economist, Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, European Commission
Iana Dreyer, founder and editor of Borderlex

12.10–13.30 Lunch

13.30–14.40 Turning Europe into an economic powerhouse – the trade policy foundation
Holger Görg, Professor of International Economics at Kiel University
Eva Sjögren, Director-General for EU Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office, Sweden

14.40–15.10 Coffee break

15.10–16.20 Economic statecraft for a new age
Vinod K. Aggarwal, Professor Political Science at University of California, Berkeley
Alicia García Herrero, Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis and Senior Fellow at Bruegel

16.20–16.30 Concluding remarks
Patrik Ström, Director at the Center for Asian Studies at the Stockholm School of Economics

16.30–17.30 Reception with refreshments for speakers and participants at the Stockholm School of Economics