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.
Author: Dan Poliwoda
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.
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…
Reforming Development Aid
In this article, Dan Poliwoda reviews the inefficacy of current development aid programming schemes, and discusses how they can be reformed. Dan argues that development aid should be predicated on adopting market-oriented reforms that promote market competition and developing countries’ engagement in global trade.
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.
The WTO and PTAs: Channeling Bilateral Trade Towards Broader Trade Liberalization
In this article, Dan Poliwoda reviews the recent proliferation of preferential trade agreements, and considers how the WTO should respond, as international trade trends away from multilateralism towards bilateralism.
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.