Our focus, beliefs and value to the global community
At the Hinrich Foundation, we believe that for global trade to be sustainable, it must deliver mutually acceptable benefits between trading partners and achieve balanced economic, societal and environmental outcomes.
At the Hinrich Foundation, we believe that for global trade to be sustainable, it must deliver mutually acceptable benefits between trading partners and achieve balanced economic, societal and environmental outcomes.
Our focus
Our mission is to strengthen the global trading system by:
- Championing mutually beneficial and sustainable trade
- Opposing protectionism and the weaponization of trade
- Supporting multilateral and regional trade frameworks
Our beliefs
Our beliefs are built on more than 60 years’ experience fostering trade and trust between East Asian trading nations and markets around the world, enabling businesses in emerging economies to achieve prosperity through trade.
We believe that global trade – when mutually beneficial and sustainable – is a powerful force for shared prosperity, technological progress, sustainability and peaceful international cooperation. The fair and transparent exchange of goods, services, capital, data and ideas can drive long-lasting global outcomes that improve lives and strengthen relations among nations.
National and regional economies have become increasingly interdependent through complex global supply chains that drive innovation and economic growth. However, for trade to be truly sustainable, it must be mutually beneficial, delivering inclusive benefits, upholding labor rights, respecting cultural norms and protecting the environment.
Balancing the complex interplay of economic, societal and environmental priorities presents a universal challenge for all nations, a challenge amplified for developing economies often lacking the resources to achieve equitable equilibrium. To ensure communities continue to support trade, all countries must anticipate and manage the domestic impacts of cross-border trade.
Through our trade-focused research and education initiatives, we strive to be a catalyst for the following outcomes:
1. Inclusive economic development and equitable prosperity
Global trade drives economic expansion by enabling countries to specialize in their comparative advantages, boosting productivity and income levels. Mutual benefit within and among trading economies is essential for achieving inclusive prosperity from trade because it is the foundation upon which the economic, societal and environmental outcomes of trade are built.
2. Poverty alleviation and improved standards of living
Trade has been instrumental in lifting over a billion people out of poverty and continues to be a key catalyst for development, especially in emerging economies. Trade has enabled communities to build stronger financial foundations, enabling improved family nutrition, greater access to quality education and higher standards of living. Trade allows consumers worldwide to access a broader variety of products, supporting rising standards of living for all.
3. Dynamic markets that foster innovation, competitiveness and efficient resource use
Exposure to international markets compels businesses to innovate and improve competitiveness. Integrated global supply chains facilitate the exchange of ideas and nurture trust. A transparent, cooperative trading system with low barriers, combined with robust domestic trade policy, helps allocate capital, labor and resources efficiently. Through greenfield foreign direct investment, capital, technology and know-how become available to fuel trade-enabled economic growth.
4. Societal progress through job creation, advancing human rights and self-determination
Export-driven industries create jobs and follow international standards for protecting human rights. Communities experiencing economic advancement seek greater self-determination.
5. Peaceful international relations grounded in trust, cooperation and respect for sovereignty
Mutually beneficial economic interdependence through trade fosters trust and peaceful relations among nations. Trade agreements and multilateral institutions provide frameworks for building trust, collaboration and managing dispute resolution, contributing to global stability and respect for sovereignty. Whilst nations have a right to consider their national security in formulating trade policy, they should not use trade for any form of political coercion.
6. Coordinated global action to address shared challenges in climate, health and security
Global trade agreements and integrated supply chains facilitate preparedness for global health challenges. Trade also supports the diffusion of green technologies and sustainable practices, such as renewable energy goods and climate adaptation tools.
We commission and publish independent, fact-based research by expert researchers to provide background, insights and policy options for achieving these outcomes. We are committed to cultivating historical perspective, a core competency that leaders of global trade need to make better decisions for their communities as they navigate an increasingly complex global trade terrain.
We consider enlightened leadership to be a prerequisite for sustainable global trade. To prepare our current and future leaders, we emphasize the importance of education and lifelong learning in sustainable trade practices. We invest in building a new generation of trade leaders, capable of navigating the complexities of global value chains and the evolving geopolitical and technological environment, by partnering with leading universities and corporations.
We acknowledge the essential role educators play in shaping the future of international trade. They carry the responsibility of fostering a comprehensive understanding of the diverse economic, societal and environmental impacts of trade, and preparing successive generations to adapt to the dynamic nature of global trade. We contend that businesses involved in cross-border trade should prioritize talent development and leadership in trade by actively engaging with academia, policy makers and civil society.
Our value to the global community
The Hinrich Foundation is an endowed not-for-profit foundation with a global perspective and an Asian emphasis. We are an independent entity unaligned with any government or corporate interest, but we collaborate and cooperate wherever possible with other like-minded bodies, public and private.
Ours is a platform that facilitates inclusive debate and discussion, absent any form of discrimination—be it ethnic, racial, gender, age, religious, jurisdictional, economic or cultural. We address complex global trade issues in a manner that emphasizes and fosters mutual benefit, openness and inclusivity. In the face of shifting macroeconomic and geopolitical landscapes, we acknowledge the importance of evolving perspectives within our community. By fostering intellectual discourse and welcoming diverse viewpoints, we aim to influence trade policy to aptly respond to contemporary challenges.
By advancing the understanding and teaching of cross-border trade, we aim to develop human capital to drive mutually beneficial and sustainable global trade.
The Hinrich Foundation seeks to nurture practical, innovative solutions and strategies that enable stakeholders to successfully navigate emerging challenges to global trade. Our goal is to effectively communicate and secure a future where trade remains a cornerstone of global prosperity, as it has in the past. We work passionately to ensure that the world derives the maximum benefit afforded by global trade.
