About the Kühne Center for Sustainable Trade and Logistics

Since 2018, the Kühne Foundation has supported the Kühne Center for Sustainable Trade and Logistics, which is based at the Department of Economics at the University of Zurich. The aim of the research center is to establish itself as a thought leader on economic issues surrounding sustainable world trade by conducting relevant research and making its insights available to a broad audience.

At the core of the center is the Kühne Foundation Professorship for International Trade. It is currently held by Professor Ralph Ossa who is a leading expert on trade policy and as from January 2023 Chief Economist of the World Trade Organization (WTO). His research spans a broad range of questions with an emphasis on the economics of trade wars and trade talks. In addition, the center is home to a number of affiliated researchers.

Shaping sustainble global trade
The main focus of the Kühne Center is Sustainable Trade and Logistics. The main goal is to understand the role of world trade in the fight against climate change: How does world trade help the climate? How does world trade harm the climate? And how should world trade change? In this context, the Kühne Center also analyzes the corresponding policy initiatives in the most important economic areas, such as the European Emissions Trading Program.