The Institute of International Business at SUIBE was established on October 24, 1984, under the approval of the former Chinese Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade. Upon its establishment, the Institute launched an initiative to research negotiations of China’s re-entry into the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), having translated a great number of GATT documents, made significant contributions to China's restoration of its membership in the GATT, and played a constructive role in China's subsequent application for accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). In November 2007, it was approved by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission as a key research base for humanities and social sciences in general higher education institutions of Shanghai City. In October 2009, it was recognized by Shanghai City as the Research Base for Innovations in Social Sciences Under Shanghai Trade Center. The research team of the institute has continuously offered relevant support as a think tank for China's competent authorities of commerce in negotiations of joining the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), China-South Korea and China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA). It has also actively participated in the framework design of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone and the third-party evaluation to provide continuous decision-making consultations for Shanghai's strategy of local economic development.
Home to International Trade Research Lab, International Investment Research Lab, and International Economic Law Research Lab, the Institute focuses on the research of theoretical and empirical research on new-new trade theory, research on service trade theory and policy, global value chain accounting, research on foreign direct investment and the international strategy of enterprises, research on the construction of Shanghai International Trade Center, and research on the institutional innovation of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The Institute also undertakes the work of the Secretariat of the Shanghai International Trade Association.