Research Intern - Trade Policy

To be considered for this role, you must apply directly through our online application. 

Overview

The Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies is a leading trade policy research center in Washington, producing analysis on US and global trade law and economics, protectionism and industrial policy, supply chains, and trade institutions. 

Scott Lincicome, Colin Grabow, Clark Packard, and Alfredo Carrillo Obregon produce policy analyses, op-eds, data-driven research, and rapid-response commentary on the most debated trade issues today. Their recent work covers the legal and economic effects of IEEPA, Section 232, and Section 301 tariffs; the Jones Act and domestic shipping rules; antidumping and countervailing duties; USMCA review; and the costs of protectionism in steel, aluminum, and other sectors.

Interns support scholars across research, data, and writing tasks that feed directly into published analyses, media commentary, and Hill engagement.

Responsibilities

• Monitor trade policy developments — including agency actions, congressional hearings, and court decisions — and prepare accurate, concise written summaries and analytical notes for the team.
• Gather, compile, and analyze data from official sources such as the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Census Bureau, International Trade Commission, Federal Reserve, and Bureau of Labor Statistics to support policy arguments and published analyses.
• Create charts, tables, and data visualizations with Excel, R, or Infogram that clearly communicate trade policy arguments to policymakers and the public.
• Conduct background research and literature reviews to support long-term scholar projects, including historical analyses of protectionism and sector-specific regulatory studies.
• Assist with event and conference planning, including background research and briefing materials for scholar appearances and media interviews.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in US trade policy, global trade institutions, and the major trade law and economic issues of the day — grounded in and aligned with Cato's principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.
• Familiarity with key legal authorities governing US trade policy, including Section 232, Section 301, IEEPA, and the fundamental structure of WTO rules and dispute settlement.
• Strong research and writing skills, with the ability to work accurately under time pressure — this team operates on both rapid-response and long-term project timelines.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and present trade and economic data from official sources, utilizing statistics and charts to support policy analysis.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including filters, sorting, XLOOKUP or INDEX-MATCH, and PivotTables.
• Professionalism, reliability, and attention to detail — data projects require careful troubleshooting, and accuracy in both analysis and written output is essential.
• Ability to work independently and handle competing priorities across short- and long-term tasks without needing frequent supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in trade policy, international economics, or a related field — through a research assistantship, policy organization internship, published or submitted paper, or independent project with verifiable results
• Familiarity with the team's active research areas, including tariff law and policy, the Jones Act, antidumping and countervailing duty regimes, industrial policy, and supply chain economics; applicants are encouraged to review the team's recently published work before applying.
• Experience with R, Python, or Stata for data analysis or visualization—especially applied to trade or economic data.
• Coursework or independent study in international trade law, international economics, or trade policy.

The Cato Internship Program

Cato’s paid internships are available for undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students, law students, and early-career professionals who are strongly committed to individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace—principles that together form libertarianism, also known as “classical liberalism,” “market liberalism,” or, to many of our international friends, simply “liberalism.” 

All Cato interns participate in the same intensive seminar series, which covers a wide range of history, philosophy, policy, and professional development topics. Interns also assist with events and occasionally support Cato staff with other daily tasks. 

Interns receive competitive pay. Part-time roles are adjusted accordingly and require a minimum of 25 hours per week. Program participants must be able to attend in person in Washington, DC.

For more information about the internship program and experience, we encourage you to explore our website. If you have any questions, email studentprograms@cato.org.