Dan Poliwoda is a third-year student at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law (graduating 2020). In 2017, Dan graduated from the University of Western Ontario with distinction standing, earning a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in History. Dan has strong academic and professional interests in commercial law, national security law, and international trade law. As a summer associate and future articling student in the Toronto office of the US-based law firm Dickinson Wright LLP, Dan has gained experience with commercial litigation and corporate law matters, as well as cross-border commercial transactions. Dan has also completed a Certificate in Transnational Law while completing a semester abroad at the University of Geneva in the autumn of 2019. Dan is fluent in English, French, and Hebrew.
Security, Trade and the Economy

The WTO and Non-Trade Related Subsidies: are subsidies to green energy producers legal?

In this article, Dan discusses whether subsidies based on non-trade related public policy rationales are legally prohibited according to WTO’s rules. He argues the SCM Agreement’s subsidy regulation regime presents States with legal uncertainty regarding the implementation of legitimate non-trade related public policy-based subsidies.

Security, Trade and the Economy

How Developed Countries are Using Preferential Trade Agreements to Address ‘Unfair Trade’ Concerns

In this article, Dan discusses how many in developed countries believe that workers in their jurisdictions have been negatively impacted by trade, primarily as a result of labour cost differences between developed and developing jurisdictions. Whether justified or not, the ‘unfair trade’ complaint has been adopted by politicians in developed countries, many of whom have tried to address disparities in labour cost through bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements with developing countries.

Security, Trade and the Economy

The Environmental Race to the Bottom: Fact or Fiction?

Introduction Since the mid 20th century, many have feared a global, environmental “Race to the Bottom” in which nation-states compete with one another by lowering their environmental regulations to attract industry to their jurisdictions. Hypothetically, the effect would be to create an advantage for producers in jurisdictions with strict regulations to relocate to the least-regulated Read More…

Security, Trade and the Economy

Debunking the Myth that Agricultural Subsidies Preserve Traditional Lifestyles and the Environment

Since the signing of the GATT, nations have sought to justify their trade distorting agricultural subsidy schemes on the basis of several rationales. In this article, Dan Poliwoda debunks one of those rationales: the myth that agricultural subsidies protect traditional rural lifestyles and the environment. Later, he discusses how anticipated reforms to the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy more closely align with this stated objective.

Security, Trade and the Economy

Making the US-China Trade War About More Than Just Trade

In this article, Dan Poliwoda examines the escalating US-China Trade War, and the growing geo-political threat China poses to the US and its democratic allies. Instead of deescalation, Dan argues the US must redefine its rationale for pursuing the conflict in order to apply broader economic pressure on China through a G-7 led, democratic coalition.