Welcome to our Member Spotlight page, where we highlight the expertise, achievements, and policy impact of our community. Our members contribute cutting-edge research and real-world insight to some of the most pressing issues in agricultural trade and policy, helping to inform discussions at national and international levels. This spotlight is updated quarterly in May, August, November, and February.
May 2026 member spotlight: Shawn Arita
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White House Council of Economic Advisers recently invited Shawn Arita to brief officials on fertilizer market disruptions and the resulting impacts on U.S. agricultural producers. The discussion provided an important opportunity to bring timely research into national policy conversations.
Shawn’s engagement reflects the broader impact of IATRC members in shaping policy-relevant discussions through rigorous, applied research.
Shawn serves as Associate Director of the Agricultural Risk Policy Center at North Dakota State University. Before joining ARPC, he was a Senior Economist in the Office of the Chief Economist at the United States Department of Agriculture, where he led analyses supporting USDA farm programs. His work has included model-based assessments for WTO trade dispute arbitration and evaluations of agricultural markets under international trade agreements.
Shawn was named USDA Economist of the Year for his research on market disruptions affecting U.S. agriculture, and his analyses have informed decision-making across White House offices. Earlier in his career, he served in the Agricultural Affairs Office at the Office of the United States Trade Representative and as a research economist with USDA’s Economic Research Service.