American trade policy is rapidly changing. It is being crafted in novel ways and with rationales that diverge from the post-World War II Washington consensus. The US now has higher tariffs than it has in a century. A resurgence in protectionism may be part of an even larger change in America’s overall role in global politics going forward in the 21^st century. While these changes are a particular focus of Donald Trump’s presidency, they reflect long-simmering trends in society and among policymakers that predate his political ascendance.

The editors of PS: Political Science & Politics invite submissions for a special issue exploring how political scientists understand why US trade policy is changing now, how it will continue to evolve in the future, and the consequences of this change for American politics and international relations. We welcome contributions from diverse methodological and disciplinary perspectives.

Example projects that would be suitable for this special include (but are not limited to):

1. assessing recent trends in preferences about international trade held by firms, groups, individuals, and politicians
2. examining the causal relationship between international trade policy and domestic politics (such as attitudes toward gender, immigration, and income redistribution)
3. studying the consequences of increased tariffs and other trade barriers on international security agreements (and vice versa)
4. predicting the effect of changing US trade policy on the global role of the US dollar as a reserve currency and medium of exchange
5. exploring the relationship between the institutional framework for American trade policymaking (including delegation to the executive via the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act) and realized American trade policies and outcomes

All submissions should comprise original empirical research and/or novel theoretical modeling.

Submission Details:

• Deadline: Manuscripts must be submitted on or before August 15th, 2025.
• To Submit: Submit manuscripts through the online system at: www.editorialmanager.com/ps
• Length: Manuscripts must be fewer than 4,800 words, including notes and references.
• Style, Format, References: Manuscripts must be submitted in Word, with in-text citations corresponding to endnotes and references conforming to the APSA Manual of Style. An online appendix can be uploaded for supplementary and supporting material.

Accepted manuscripts will be published on First View as they are completed and will be compiled into a special issue.

For further inquiries, please contact Prof. Justin Esarey, Editor of PS: Political Science & Politics, at [email protected].