NationStates Jolt Archive

Category: Free Trade, Strength: Mild

I do not have the two endorsements necessary to submit this proposal, unfortunately. I will have to ask that someone submits it for me, if it is deemed here to be worth submitting. If there are any problems with it, could they be pointed out to me?


The United Nations,

NOTING that there are thousands upon thousands of nations recognized within the international community,

FURTHER NOTING the multitudinous differences between the laws concerning international trade between nations,

CONDEMNS the expenditures of time and resources on the part of international merchants to research and meet the demands of international trade laws,

CONDEMNS the government expenditure in beaurocracy and potential corruption resulting from these widely differing and often difficult to understand differences in national trade laws,

REQUIRES that all nations submit their trade laws to a centralized database that will be established within UN HQ,

RECOMMENDS that efforts be taken to standardize grammar and usage of language within database submissions, such that it makes them easier to understand and discourages "creative" interpretations.

By enacting this resolution, all trade laws will be contained in one place and easily/freely accessible to all. This standardized database will remove confusion about trade laws and allow any merchant considering the international market for expansion to quickly and easily scan the laws that will affect him should he expand into that country.

The United Nations,

NOTING that there are thousands upon thousands of nations recognized within the international community,

Over 100,000 at this time. Not a correction, just a comment to note how many.

FURTHER NOTING the multitudinous differences between the laws concerning international trade between nations,

Clarity question: UN laws or national laws? Trade treaties are a different beast.

CONDEMNS the expenditures of time and resources on the part of international merchants to research and meet the demands of international trade laws,

We don't exactly have any... Most of them are just treaties, alliances, or national laws applied to the international scene. The UN has a difficult time getting involved without arguements springing up and derailing the attempts.

CONDEMNS the government expenditure in beaurocracy and potential corruption resulting from these widely differing and often difficult to understand differences in national trade laws,

Realism question here. This is one that depends and should be looked at to see if it is accurate.

REQUIRES that all nations submit their trade laws to a centralized database that will be established within UN HQ,

RECOMMENDS that efforts be taken to standardize database submission formats, to make them easier to understand and to discourage "creative" interpretations.

Good luck on that. The UN has technology differences in it ranging from post stone age to extreme future. And that's ignoring the nations that use magic instead of technology. Standardizing requires accounting for this extreme variety.

By enacting this resolution, all trade laws will be contained in one place and easily/freely accessible to all. This standardized database will remove confusion about trade laws and allow any merchant considering the international market for expansion to quickly and easily scan the laws that will affect him should he expand into that country.

I don't really know if this is worth it, but give it a shot. However, I should note this will only lessen, not solve, the problem. The majority of nations are outside the UN and UN resolutions are not allowed to be applied to nonmember nations.

Clarity question: UN laws or national laws? Trade treaties are a different beast.

Trade treaties and national laws. I wasn't sure if there were UN laws as well, but they would require being inputted as well.

We don't exactly have any... Most of them are just treaties, alliances, or national laws applied to the international scene. The UN has a difficult time getting involved without arguements springing up and derailing the attempts.

Tariffs are a form of international trade law, treaties that regulate trade are the same, and you admitted to national laws being present yourself. These aren't things the UN would necessarily be involved with, it would only keep a database of them.

Realism question here. This is one that depends and should be looked at to see if it is accurate.

If laws are difficult to find and too arcanely worded to understand, then they leave too much leeway for people to flaunt them or beaurocrats to exploit them against people. In either case, it just comes down to whoever has more power. That's something this would combat.

Good luck on that. The UN has technology differences in it ranging from post stone age to extreme future. And that's ignoring the nations that use magic instead of technology. Standardizing requires accounting for this extreme variety.

I was referring to standardization in grammar and usage of language, neither of which are affected by technology. I was intended to bring up another, much stronger proposal if this one passed about attempting to standardize laws within the database, but you bring a good point to the table that makes me think the new proposal wouldn't be worthwhile.
UPDATE: Changed the proposal wording to reflect that I was aiming at standardizing language usage.

Trade treaties and national laws. I wasn't sure if there were UN laws as well, but they would require being inputted as well.

Ah. Sounds fine.

Tariffs are a form of international trade law, treaties that regulate trade are the same, and you admitted to national laws being present yourself. These aren't things the UN would necessarily be involved with, it would only keep a database of them.

You have to understand: Most of the time, international is thought to mean UN. The difference is barely apparent in many cases.

If laws are difficult to find and too arcanely worded to understand, then they leave too much leeway for people to flaunt them or beaurocrats to exploit them against people. In either case, it just comes down to whoever has more power. That's something this would combat.

Unless, of course, the nation in question is not willing to compromise. That's been another common problem. But I see what you are doing.

I was referring to standardization in grammar and usage of language, neither of which are affected by technology. I was intended to bring up another, much stronger proposal if this one passed about attempting to standardize laws within the database, but you bring a good point to the table that makes me think the new proposal wouldn't be worthwhile.
UPDATE: Changed the proposal wording to reflect that I was aiming at standardizing language usage.

Okay. You've covered the major stuff. Good luck with it.

My God, it's a trade proposal that isn't calling for the immediate destruction of all tariff laws. That is, a trade resolution that I would probably vote for.

Good luck in getting this forward. Keep in mind that you can only get endorsements from other members of your region, and if you are in a large region it can be easier to get them.

Cobdenia supports this proposal. If you have problems getting an endorsement, telegram two others in your region, preferably those without endorsements themselves, and offer an "endorsement swap" (you endorse them if they endorse you!).

Posted! It is now proposal #74 and is, at least for the moment, to be found here:
http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/74504/page=UN_proposal/start=74

Posted! It is now proposal #74 and is, at least for the moment, to be found here:
http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/74504/page=UN_proposal/start=74
I would suggest a telegram campaign as helpful for bringing this forward. Support on the forums is nice, but (unfortunatly) most delegates don't bother coming here.