NationStates Jolt Archive

The Resolution:
Description: As many have seen, the economy goes hand-in-hand with everything. From the funding of military weapons to the furtherment of peace within our global society.

Therefore, I propose that in order to further Free Trade and to help all nations economically, we agree to set up a World Trade Federation.

The World Trade Federation would draft an International Trade Constitution, in order to assure everyone Economic equality and prosperity.

Amendment I. When one is a UN member, they must allow international buisnesses/corporations/companies to compete within their region, in order to further Free Trade.
Amendment II. Any vehicle conducting trade must never be fired upon, during war time, or otherwise.
Subsection A.This includes when they are en route to and from their trading destination.
Amendement III.When one is a UN member, they must never lie about the value of their currency, so as to further economic fairness.
Subsection A. This would mean that if one lies about the value of their currency, three years of trading sanctions mandatory for every nation to follow would be imposed upon the guilty nation.
Amendment IV. Economic Warfare, in order to decrease the overall economic prosperity of a nation, shall be strictly frowned upon, and ten years of trading sanctions shall be imposed on the nation that does so.
Subsection A. Economic Warfare will be allowed against nations that have commited atrocities and/or crimes against humanity, and the purpose for said war is strictly to overthrow the oppressive government that enacts these atrocities and/or crimes against humanity.

Anyone? :(
Edit: Man, with all the economic debates in the General forums, I'd at least thought somebody would spit on this resolution/endorse it. :(

The Enodian Delegation would like to make some general comments on the proposal as a means of getting the proverbial ball rolling.

The Resolution:
Description: As many have seen, the economy goes hand-in-hand with everything. From the funding of military weapons to the furtherment of peace within our global society.
Yes, the economy does go hand-in-hand with everything, but placing the importance of trade - of any description - above the importance of the people and sentient life-forms we ostensibly represent is a road to damnation. The "almighty dollar" is only "almighty" because it is viewed as such.

Therefore, I propose that in order to further Free Trade and to help all nations economically, we agree to set up a World Trade Federation.
And it is at this point that the Enodian representation must respectfully diverge from the viewpoint of The Spartan States. We do not believe that a centralised body with the express purpose of establishing free trade relations between all nations is a suitable means of improving the economies of all nations.
As the Enodian economist/philosopher Joachim-Christian von Neuberger famously remarked in his work die Gruendung des Wirtschaftliches Wissenschaftes ("The Basis of Economic Science"), "A combination of the doctrines of Smith's 'invisible hand' and Ricardo's 'comparative advantage theory' risks the invisible hand doing nothing more than making rude gestures to those economies losing out in the battle for comparative advantage."

The World Trade Federation would draft an International Trade Constitution, in order to assure everyone Economic equality and prosperity.
While a noble aim, it is the belief of Enodia that the Constitution will be drafted with the purpose of promoting Free Trade, rather than an equitable form of trade. For which, see above.

Amendment I. When one is a UN member, they must allow international buisnesses/corporations/companies to compete within their region, in order to further Free Trade.
Never. Foreign-owned businesses are welcome to trade in the Electorate, but such businesses must recognise that there are certain industries in which they will not compete on a level playing field. The Electorate has no intention of altering this historical truth. Likewise, there are certain industries in which foreign-owned firms cannot expect to trade in Enodia. The interests of the Enodian economy are paramount to the Enodian Economics Ministry and will not be compromised.

Amendment II. Any vehicle conducting trade must never be fired upon, during war time, or otherwise.
This is a noble aim, but one frought with legalism. How is "conducting trade" to be defined? Is "arms dealing with an enemy belligerent" a legitimate form of trade? What of more despicable practices, such as the slave trade?
It should be noted that the Electorate has no great desire to fire upon non-combatants in a war, should we ever enter one again. However, should the Electorate enter a war, it fears the hampering of a swift war effort by the legalism of this clause.

Amendement III.When one is a UN member, they must never lie about the value of their currency, so as to further economic fairness.
Subsection A. This would mean that if one lies about the value of their currency, three years of trading sanctions mandatory for every nation to follow would be imposed upon the guilty nation.
Again, a noble aim (if somewhat odd, considering the global exchange of information) hamstrung by some strange provisions. There are states in the world today where the value of the currency is determined not by market forces, but by the whim of the government. As a result, these states would be able to alter the value of their currency in a much freer manner than those with a "floating value" and not suffer for it. Well, the constant and arbitrary alteration of currency value is never a good thing...

Amendment IV. Economic Warfare, in order to decrease the overall economic prosperity of a nation, shall be strictly frowned upon, and ten years of trading sanctions shall be imposed on the nation that does so.
Subsection A. Economic Warfare will be allowed against nations that have commited atrocities and/or crimes against humanity, and the purpose for said war is strictly to overthrow the oppressive government that enacts these atrocities and/or crimes against humanity.
This clause is a joke, right? "You can't institute economic warfare to make a nation poorer. If you do that, economic warfare will be instituted against you to make you poorer." A remarkably strange situation.
Again, clarification is required of an important term - "Economic Warfare" in this case. The phrasing implies that "trading sanctions" are a form thereof, however there are many more - shall we say "creative" - forms of economic warfare in which nations may engage. Enodia's current Grand Duke is a former economist and is on record as saying "this provision is the most easily-exploited I've seen in ages". Subsection A also appears to be confused about "economic warfare" versus "actual warfare", assuming there to be a difference. "Economic warfare will be allowed...humanity" makes sense, true. "The purpose of said war is strictly..." does not, as "economic warfare" has suddenly mutated into a more active and militaristic thing than it normally is. The Enodian Economics Ministry would also argue that economic sanctions do not achieve the goal of "overthrowing the oppressive regimes of the world".

As the Lucitavian defense and economic minister, I see the noble cause within your proposal but do sense some missing pieces:

1. I believe that in war it is almost unavoidable to not target economic targets. In order to win, you have to limits one's resources and ability to function as a soverign nation. Thus you attack their supply lines and means of economic support.

2. However, I do firmly agree with your proposals on the premise to promote economic sanctions with countries that committ crimes against humanity.

3. The establishment of the International Trade Constitution is a viable thing to have. But, it does not adress how it intends to enforce its measures. I believe that it would be better if you were to bring up a plan of action that would control your trade ammendants.

Overall, it is a good idea that just needs to be more elaborated. I hope you get your resolution and apporved.

-Marcus Townsend
Minister of Defense and Economics
The Democratic Republic of Lucitavia

Is anyone else laughing at the abbreviation for World Trade Federation?

1.Subsection A under Amendment II does tell what "conducting trade" would be.

2. All I ask is that you allow businesses/corporations to compete. It by far does not mean that they will necessarily compete.

3. As long as the government who bases the value of their currency tells what they think it should be, then they couldn't be lying, thusly in accordance with the trade constitution. :)

4. What I meant by economic warfare:
During World War II, Hitler got some Jews to craft some fake British Pounds. Darn good ones, too. Then they packed 'em up, flew over London, and dropped 'em. Because there was such an overabundance of money, the value of the money itself went down, and people lost faith in their currency, making people afraid to buy. This in turn created an economic situation.

5. What abbreviation? How's it funny? :?