Kari Heerman

Kari Heerman is a senior fellow and director of Trade and Economic Statecraft at the Brookings Institution. Previously, Dr. Heerman was acting chief economist in the Office of the Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of State. In that role she led the office’s team in its mission of providing advice and analysis on complex, emerging issues at the intersection of economics and foreign policy; offering tools to advance economic diplomacy; and serving as a liaison to technical experts in economics across academia, industry, partner governments, and other institutions. Prior to joining the State Department, Dr. Heerman was a deputy assistant United States trade representative in the Office of Trade Policy and Economics at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). She served as a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers focusing on international economic issues from 2021-2023. 

Dr. Heerman began her federal government service as a research agricultural economist studying issues related to U.S. and international trade and agricultural policy at the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). She received her Ph.D. in applied economics from the University of Minnesota in 2013. Prior to pursuing a Ph.D., Kari worked on agricultural trade policy issues for the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council (IPC), the German Marshall Fund, and the Hewlett Foundation.