Global Challenges in Foreign Trade and Trade Policy

From governmental power plays to fragile supply chains to questions about the role of the European Central Bank, the state of the world today has come with enormous political and economic hurdles. On November 20, 2025, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management and Aktionskreis Stabiles Geld will host “Foreign Trade and Trade Policy Challenges Facing the German Economy,” a conference where renowned experts will answer questions regarding financial policy, resilience, stability, and geoeconomic shifts in power.

• Dr. Rolf J. Langhammer (The Kiel Institute) will present the current geoeconomic situation as part of a long historical development  in which power politics and trade have always been closely linked. He will outline potential solutions for how Germany, and Europe as a whole, can react to such dynamics.
• Dr. Galina Kolev-Schäfer (TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences / The German Economic Institute) will shed a light on how Germany can strengthen its resilience and reduce its dependency on global supply chains. In her presentation, Dr. Kolev-Schäfer will recommend concrete courses of action for today’s companies and policymakers.
• Dr. Thomas Jost (TH Aschaffenburg – University of Applied Sciences) will discuss the role of the ECB as one of Europe’s crisis managers, revealing the limitations of austerity politics as well as the risks of politically rooted monetary interventions.

The event is aimed at anyone who has an interest in recent developments in the economy and in financial politics. It will take place on WHU’s campus in Düsseldorf (Lecture Hall 4.2.05, Erkratherstr. 224a, 40233 in Düsseldorf).

With this event, WHU and Aktionskreis Stabiles Geld aim to promote and advocate discourse occurring between science, business, and society. Those interested are requested to RSVP by November 12, 2025, by contacting Nicole Schuster (nicole.schuster[at]whu.edu).

Program:

13:45 Doors open

14:00 Opening address and introduction, Professor Ralf Fendel

14:10 Challenges from the Geoeconomic Perspective, Dr. Rolf J. Langhammer

14:45 Economic Resilience and Trade, Dr. Galina Kolev-Schäfer

15:15 Coffee break

15:45 Monetary Politics in Conflicting Fields, Dr. Thomas Jost

16:45 Panel discussion: Issues Concerning the Future of International Economic Order

17:45 Conclusionary remarks, Dr. Gerd Rösl