Fall 2026 Policy and Research Internship (Washington, DC)

Overview

The US-ASEAN Business Council is the premier advocacy organization for U.S. corporations operating within the dynamic Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), serving as the leading voice of the U.S. private sector in promoting mutually beneficial trade and investment relationships between the United States and Southeast Asia. The Council is the only U.S.-based organization recognized in the ASEAN charter as a supporting organization of ASEAN. The Council's members include more than 180 of the most successful and innovative corporations in the world, including Apple, Boeing, Citi, The Coca-Cola Company, Google, and Microsoft. Combined, these 180+ companies generate over $7 trillion in revenue and employ more than 13 million people worldwide.

Cradled between China, India and Australia, ASEAN is the third-largest economy in the Indo-Pacific and the fifth largest in the world with a GDP of $2.8 trillion and a population of 650 million. As a critical hub for global trade, more than $3.4 trillion in global trade transits through ASEAN each year. In 2019, ASEAN became the 4th largest goods export market for the U.S. after Canada, Mexico, and China, reaching over $105 billion in exports in goods and services. It has also attracted more U.S. investment than any other destination in the whole of Indo-Pacific, receiving almost $329 billion in investment, more than the United States has directed to China, India, Japan, and South Korea combined.

Internship Duties and Learning Outcomes

The Council Internship Program is meant to provide hands-on experience in the field of U.S. – ASEAN business relations. Throughout the internship, students will collaborate directly with country and industry teams, undertaking highly substantive work, including research, social media, program support and attendance, and various other tasks in support of our members.

Policy and Research Internship Duties:

The Policy and Research Intern will assist the Country, Industry and Membership Teams by providing world-class and forward-looking research to the Council's 180+ members. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Researching current national and regional economic policy issues in ASEAN affecting the private sector

• Drafting regular country and industry updates

• Researching U.S. private sector activities in ASEAN

• Assisting in the organization of events with senior government officials and private sector executives

• Attending events with visiting delegations

• Attending briefings and drafting memos on Council-related topics at institutions around D.C.

Unpaid Internship

Small transportation stipend (Washington, D.C. public transportation) (optional)

Qualifications

The Council is looking for highly motivated candidates who are undergraduates, recent graduates or graduate students with a strong demonstrable interest in Southeast Asia or trade policy. We are seeking individuals with strong written and organizational skills, as well as well-honed research abilities.

• Excellent research and writing skills

• Attention to detail

• Self-motivated

• Ability to work a minimum of 4 days per week (hybrid availability preferred)

• Ability to work legally in the United States (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, CPT/OPT authorization, or Qualifying Asylee/Refugee)

• Based in the U.S. for the duration of the internship

Application Procedures, Deadlines and Internship Periods

To apply to the Council’s internship program, please submit a resume, two brief writing samples (no more than two pages each, preferably covering Southeast Asian current affairs and/or policy issues) and a cover letter. The cover letter should include information about your availability and a brief description of your academic and professional goals.

Rolling Deadline

Any questions should also be addressed to internships@usasean.org.