The Prosperity Institute and the Institute for Free Trade welcomed over one hundred students and policy professionals to attend a day-long conference on free trade and its role in shaping the modern world, on Thursday 14th May 2026.

This conference brought together leading policymakers, academics, security experts, and thinkers from both sides of the atlantic for a series of in-depth panel discussions and lectures. Sessions explored a wide range of topics, including the US special relationship, the ethics of free trade, the nature of conservatism and the impact of Donald Trump on global security and trade policy.

“Together we covered all aspects of commerce: the ethical case, security considerations, the monetary system, the history of our ideas and the need to restate the case for economic freedom every generation. We had terrific speakers from both sides of the Atlantic, and a large, young and engaged audience.” - Lord Hannan of Kingsclere

The event was designed to give attendees the opportunity to engage directly with current debates at the intersection of economics, politics, and international affairs. Speakers included the atlanticist historian and political economist Professor Phillip Magness, Lord Daniel Hannan, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Dr Philip Booth, Blake Stephenson MP, Declan Galney, Catherine McBride, Prof Gwythian Prins, and many more.

“The quality of the discussion across the sessions was exactly what we had hoped for: frank, wide-ranging, provocative and often very funny. We are immensely grateful for the time, thought, and energy that each speaker brought to the programme.” - Robert Armstrong