Canadian Economists Invited to Explore Intersections of Innovation and Global Trade Amid Rising Uncertainties

The Canadian Journal of Economics has launched an important call for papers that brings together two of the most pressing forces reshaping the global economy today: rapid technological advancement and the complexities of trade policy in an era of geopolitical flux. This special issue, titled Technical Change and Trade Policy in an Uncertain World, invites researchers to examine how innovations in artificial intelligence, automation, digital trade, and green technologies are interacting with trade rules and uncertainties around the world.

With a submission deadline of August 15, 2026, the symposium promises to deliver fresh insights that will resonate deeply with Canadian scholars, policymakers, and institutions navigating these dynamics. The journal, a flagship publication of the Canadian Economics Association, continues its tradition of fostering rigorous, policy-relevant research that reflects Canada's unique position in international economics.

Understanding the Scope of This Timely Symposium

The call highlights the fourth technological revolution as a pivotal moment. Advances in e-commerce, automation, artificial intelligence, the servicification of manufacturing, and green technologies have the potential to lower trade costs, boost growth, and reshape global patterns. At the same time, these developments occur against a backdrop of heightened uncertainty stemming from shifting alliances, supply chain disruptions, and evolving regulatory landscapes.

Guest editors Yao Amber Li of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, James Lake of the University of Tennessee, and Peter Morrow of the University of Toronto will oversee the symposium, which is scheduled for publication in 2027. Their combined expertise ensures a balanced focus on theoretical models, empirical analysis, and real-world policy implications.

Submissions are welcomed on a wide range of themes, including optimal trade and industrial policies under uncertainty, the effects of climate technologies on global value chains, the impact of digitalization and AI on traditional trade flows, data governance and intellectual property in fragmented economies, firm-level responses to policy uncertainty, and the adaptation of multilateral institutions.

Canadian Institutions at the Heart of Global Economic Dialogue

Canada's academic community stands to benefit significantly from this initiative. The University of Toronto, through Peter Morrow's involvement, anchors the effort in Canadian scholarship. The Canadian Journal of Economics itself, based at Queen's University under managing editor Steven Lehrer, provides a prestigious platform that reaches international audiences while prioritizing research with domestic relevance.

Canadian economists have long contributed to debates on trade liberalization, resource-based exports, and innovation-driven growth. This special issue offers an opportunity to extend those contributions by addressing how emerging technologies might either buffer or amplify the effects of policy volatility on sectors such as automotive manufacturing, resource extraction, and services.

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The Two-Stage Process: Conference Followed by Symposium

The project unfolds in two phases. First, a conference will take place in late July 2026 at Hefei University of Technology in China, organized in partnership with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and East China Normal University. Keynote speakers include Stephen Yeaple of Pennsylvania State University, Shang-Jin Wei of Columbia University, and John Morrow of Queen Mary University of London.

Conference submissions are due by April 15, 2026, with decisions expected by May 1. Papers presented at the event will receive priority consideration for the symposium, though the call remains open to all qualified researchers regardless of conference attendance. This structure encourages early feedback while maintaining the journal's high editorial standards.

Why This Matters for Canadian Researchers and Graduate Students

For faculty members and PhD candidates in economics departments across Canada, the special issue represents both an opportunity and a call to action. Topics such as the interaction between AI-driven automation and tariff uncertainty directly relate to ongoing discussions about supply-chain resilience in Ontario's manufacturing heartland and British Columbia's resource sectors.

Graduate students working on international economics, industrial organization, or environmental economics will find natural entry points. The emphasis on firm-level behavior under uncertainty aligns with Canada's strengths in empirical trade research using detailed firm-level data from Statistics Canada.

Participation can enhance visibility, foster international collaborations, and contribute to policy briefs that inform federal and provincial decision-makers grappling with issues like critical minerals strategy and digital trade agreements.

Broader Economic Context and Policy Relevance

The themes resonate beyond academia. Canada's economy remains deeply integrated into global value chains, making it particularly sensitive to shifts in trade policy and technological disruption. Recent developments in electric vehicle supply chains, semiconductor investments, and critical minerals partnerships underscore the need for evidence-based analysis of how innovation and policy uncertainty interact.

By focusing on optimal policy responses, the symposium could generate findings that help Canadian officials design industrial strategies that leverage technological change while mitigating risks from geopolitical tensions. Climate-related technologies and their effects on value chains also speak directly to Canada's net-zero commitments and export strategies in clean energy.

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Submission Guidelines and Next Steps

Authors should prepare manuscripts according to the journal's standard author guidelines and indicate the special issue when submitting through the Wiley portal. Normal peer-review processes apply, ensuring the same rigorous standards that have established the Canadian Journal of Economics as a leading general-interest outlet in the field.

Researchers are encouraged to begin developing proposals that combine theoretical innovation with empirical grounding, drawing on Canadian data where possible to maximize relevance and impact.

Looking Ahead: Anticipated Contributions and Impact

The resulting symposium is expected to advance understanding of how technological revolutions can serve as stabilizers in uncertain trade environments. Canadian voices will be essential in balancing perspectives from Asia, Europe, and North America.

By bridging academic research with practical policy questions, this initiative reinforces the role of Canadian economics departments in shaping global conversations. Early-career researchers who engage now may find themselves at the forefront of a rapidly evolving research agenda with lasting influence on both scholarship and real-world outcomes.