The Uncharted Waters of International Trade

This article surveys emerging frontiers and unresolved questions in international trade economics. Antràs reviews how globalization, global value chains, geopolitical tensions, technological change, and environmental pressures are reshaping the study of international trade. The paper synthesizes theoretical and empirical advances in the field while identifying areas where traditional trade models face new challenges. Topics include supply chain resilience, multinational production, industrial policy, trade fragmentation, and the evolving relationship between trade and national economic security. The article argues for a broader and more interdisciplinary research agenda to address the changing structure of the global economy.