Speakers

Our ambition is to connect contemporary research with modern policymaking. To that end, we have invited both academics and practitioners to speak at the conference. Leading international researchers will present their findings, offering insights from the forefront of their fields. In response, practitioners will reflect on these contributions through the lens of the decision-maker.

Welcome address from the Stockholm School of Economics

Sofie Roy, Stockholm School of Economics

Sofie Roy

Sofie Roy is the Senior Executive Vice President of the Stockholm School of Economics.

The Stockholm School of Economics is one of Europe's leading business schools, with a unique business-community network. Their research is internationally recognised and many of their researchers are among the leading figures in their respective fields.

Welcome address from the National Board of Trade Sweden

Anders Ahnlid, National Board of Trade Sweden

Anders Ahnlid

Anders Ahnlid is the Director-General at the National Board of Trade Sweden. He served as a Swedish negotiator during the GATT's so called Uruguay Round of 1988–1994. During his career, he has held several positions related to trade policy within the Swedish Foreign Service. During 2013–2016 he served as Ambassador of the Swedish permanent representation to the European Union in Brussels, and 2016–2020 he was the Swedish Ambassador in Helsinki.

Welcome address from Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade

Benjamin Dousa, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Benjamin Dousa

Benjamin Dousa is Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade. Prior to this, he served as CEO of the Swedish Federation of Business Owners, CEO of the think tank Timbro and as a board member of the Stockholm School of Economics.

Research keynote address: Navigating international trade in a new era

Pol Antràs, Harvard University

Pol Antràs

Pol Antràs is a world-renowned economist, widely recognised for his work on international trade. Since 2015, he has been the Robert G. Ory Professor of Economics at Harvard University.

Pol Antràs belongs to a new generation of trade researchers who highlight the importance of firm behaviour in understanding trade patterns. His most recent work focuses on global value chains. In a 2024 paper, Antràs provides a broad overview of the current state of international trade research. His keynote address will also explore the implications for trade policy in this new era.

Policy keynote address: Creating a rule-based trading system for a new era

Arancha González, Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po

Arancha González

Arancha González is the third Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po and the first woman to lead the world's third school for politics and international studies. She has previously served as Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation; Assistant-Secretary-General of the United Nations; Executive Director of the International Trade Centre and Chief of Staff to former WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy.

A consistent advocate for inclusive trade policies, Arancha González has recently written on topics such as Trump-Proofing Europe and New European Automotive Strategy. Her keynote policy address will focus on how we can design a rules-based trading system for a new era.

Plenary session: Lessons from history – trade wars and protection

Kevin O´Rourke, Science Po Paris

Kevin O´Rourke

Kevin O'Rourke is a Director of Research at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) and a Professor of Economics at Sciences Po Paris. He is a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, a Fellow of the British Academy, a Fellow of the Cliometric Society, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Science. His research lies at the intersection of economic history and international economics.

Kevin O'Rourke will talk about historical lessons from previous periods of trade wars and protectionism.

Edouard Bourcieu, European Commission

Edouard Bourcieu

Edouard Bourcieu is chief economist and head of unit at Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, European Commission.

Edouard Bourcieu will talk about the lessons from history on trade wars and protection from a European perspective.

Iana Dreyer, Borderlex

Iana Dreyer

Iana Dreyer is the founder and editor of Borderlex. She writes about the politics shaping EU trade policy, systemic issues at the World Trade Organization, international trade disputes, the nexus between security and trade and EU-Asian trade relations.

Iana Dreyer will talk about how she perceives the current climate among trade policymakers worldwide. Is there a risk that we are entering a vicious circle of protectionism?

Plenary session: Turning Europe into an economic powerhouse – the trade policy foundation

Holger Görg, Kiel University. Photo: IfW Kiel, Michael Stefan.

Holger Görg

Holger Görg is Professor of International Economics at the University of Kiel, Director of the research group “International Trade and Investment” at the Kiel Institute and Director of the Kiel Centre for Globalization. He has served as a consultant to a wide range of institutions, including the World Bank, European Commission, UN Economic Commissions for Europe and Africa, and various governments.

Holger Görg will talk about the link between trade and productivity, and how trade policy can be used to turn the EU into an economic powerhouse.

Eva Sjögren, Sweden's Prime Minister's Office

Eva Sjögren

Eva Sjögren is Director-General for EU Affairs at at the Prime Minister’s Office, Sweden. With a professional career spanning from 1994, Eva Sjögren’s focus has been on EU affairs and international trade.

Eva Sjögren will talk about how the EU can enhance productivity and competitiveness through external trade policies.

Plenary session: Economic statecraft for a new age

Vinod K. Aggarwal, University of California at Berkeley

Vinod K. Aggarwal

Vinod K. Aggarwal is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He has served as a consultant to a wide range of institutions, including the governments of Mexico and Malaysia, the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Defense, and State, as well as World Trade Organization, OECD, Group of Thirty, FAO, IFAD, International Labor Organization, ASEAN, and the World Bank.

Vinod K. Aggarwal will talk about economic statecraft for a new age.

Concluding address from the Stockholm School of Economics

Patrik Ström, Stockholm School of Economics  

Patrik Ström

Patrik Ström is the Director of the European Institute of Japanese Studies at the Stockholm School of Economics. Patrik studies the inter-nationalisation and competitiveness of the knowledge-intensive Japanese service industry in Europe and Asia. He has been a Visiting Researcher at Stanford University, Palo Alto in California, University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Keio University in Tokyo and Nippon Institute of Technology in Saitama.