Alicia García Herrero: Europe should pick its battles and find alliances to defend the multilateral trading system

Alicia García Herrero reflects on how researchers and policymakers can support each other. With experience in both worlds, she brings a valuable perspective and a strong voice for bridging the gap between them.

Vinod K. Aggarwal: The current rules-based order at the global level is dead

Vinod K. Aggarwal reflects on the concept of new economic statecraft for a new age. Drawing on his extensive background in political science, he brings a thought-provoking lens to economic research and policymaking.

Eva Sjögren: To build bridges between academia and policy is more important than ever

Eva Sjögren shares her reflections on how Europe can be turned into an economic powerhouse. Her experience in the government offices of a small EU member state has taught her how to turn size into an advantage in EU trade policy.

Iana Dreyer: The key challenge is helping politicians understand why trade matters

Iana Dreyer reflects on lessons from history and shares her perspective on the current climate among trade policymakers around the world. With her background in journalism, she offers unique insight into how media can help build a bridge between those who make trade policy and those who analyse it.

Arancha González: Do not sugar-coat the difficulties; show that you understand them and are ready to address them

As one of the keynote speakers at the Heckscher-Ohlin conference, Arancha González Laya brings deep experience from the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the European Union (EU). Read this intervew on the complex relationship between research and policymaking, and the role of trade scholars...

Pol Antras: Researchers must make their work more digestible to policymakers

As a keynote speaker at the 2025 Heckscher-Ohlin Conference, Pol Antràs joins us to reflect on how trade research is – or is not – feeding into today’s policymaking. With a background at the forefront of international trade theory, Antràs offers unique insights into the state of research, the legacy of Heckscher and...

Anders Ahnlid: The EU should step forward and launch a rules-based trade coalition

What should the EU do to take the lead in reviving the rules-based trading system? Anders Ahnlid shares his reflections. With long experience from various roles in the trade policy field, he is a strong advocate of evidence-based trade policy.

See afterwards: Heckscher-Ohlin Conference 2025 – Trade Policy for a New Era

The 2025 Heckscher-Ohlin conference took place in mid-October 2025. It aimed to bridge contemporary research and policymaking by bringing together leading trade economists and practitioners. Watch the conference and read short interviews with some of the speakers.

Shasa Aziz Baker

The Swedish market for medtech

The Swedish medtech market is increasingly being shaped by the digital transformation, including telemedicine, remote diagnostics, AI-driven tools, and interoperable patient data platforms. This market study offers a comprehensive guide for companies that are interested in entering the Swedish market for medtech...

Amanda Magnusson

Emma From

China renounces special and differential treatment as a developing country in the WTO

Last week, China announced that it will no longer invoke the special benefits linked to its developing-country status in the World Trade Organization, WTO. But what does this actually mean?

Common Specifications – fallback or challenge for harmonised standards within the EU?

Harmonised standards have long been the primary tool for businesses to demonstrate compliance with EU product legislation. They play a crucial role in fostering innovation, strengthening legal certainty and enhancing competitiveness, while ensuring a well-functioning single market.

Common Specifications: Fallback or challenge for harmonised standards within the EU?

European harmonised standards have long been the primary tool businesses use to demonstrate compliance with EU product legislation, supporting innovation, legal certainty and competitiveness. However, delays in their availability have created challenges, leaving companies facing uncertainty and higher compliance costs.

African countries leaving LDC status – new trade conditions

Several African countries are preparing to leave the UN’s category of least developed countries (LDCs). This is a positive step, but it also means that key trade preferences will gradually disappear.

LDC Graduation: Challenges and opportunities for EU–African trade

An increasing number of African countries are preparing to leave the UN’s category of least developed countries (LDCs). This analysis focuses on how that changes the conditions for trade. New opportunities may arise – both for countries that graduate and for those that remain in the LDC group.

Asia’s emerging markets grow in importance for Sweden and the EU

As the global economy evolves, Asia’s emerging markets are taking on an increasingly important role. Their strong economic development creates both opportunities and challenges for trade relations with Sweden and the EU.

Rethinking Trade with Asia

Asia’s emerging markets show strong economic growth, increasing in importance for Sweden and the EU. The report highlights the role of free trade agreements and examines how Sweden and the EU can balance economic opportunities with geopolitical realities in Asia.

Report irregularities in the National Board of Trade’s operations

Swedish law provides protection for individuals who report workplace irregularities, known as whistleblowing. Here is information on how to report irregularities at the National Board of Trade Sweden and what protection you have.