International trade and investment: A review and research agenda

International trade and investment have always been an epicenter of research, and with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a surge in the publication of review articles focusing on different facets of trade and investment has been observed, but a comprehensive retrospective review of international trade and investment remains scarce. To address this gap, a systematic literature review of 30 articles published in A* and A ranked journals, along with performance analysis and science mapping of 720 articles retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases using bibliometric analysis is done. Considering the dynamic nature of international trade and investment, the relationship between export policies and international trade influences the global landscape, which fosters mutually beneficial relationships leading to economic cooperation. Capitalizing on opportunities and mitigating risks associated with international investment is crucial for maintaining sustainable international business operations. Through these interconnected relationships, the research contributes to the understanding of the interdependent forces shaping the global economic paradigm in a unified manner. Moreover, the study provides future research directions and questions which are culled from the analysis and offer potential advancements in the field of international trade and investment.