NationStates Jolt Archive


Free Trade in Sweetness

Bears Armed
30-07-2008, 14:16
How do people feel about this potential proposal?


Free Trade in Sweetness

Category = Free Trade
Strength = Significant


The World Assembly,

Recognising that many people like to include sweet substances in their foods,

Regretting that some national governments impose customs duties, tariffs, or other taxes, that make it harder for people to afford those substances,

Recognising that this organisation should only reduce the sovereign rights of the member nations' governments within their own lands when this is absolutely necessary, but that international trade is a legitimate subject for international legislation,

1. Declares that no member nation may impose customs duties, tariffs, or other taxation, on imported dietary sweeteners (including, but not limited to, honey, maple syrup, sugar, molasses, treacle, or marmalade), unless any of the following conditions apply _
A/ The nation concerned also produces the same substance within their own territories, and taxes that domestic product at least as heavily as they wish to tax the imports;
B/ The imposition of tariffs or other taxes is intended purely to counteract production subsidies within, and/or "product dumping" by, another nation, and does not exceed the level necessary for this;

2. Creates an organisation called the World Assembly Arbitration Tribunals (or 'WAAT'), and _
A/ Gives WAAT the right and duty to impose binding arbitration on any disputes about the application of this resolution's terms that are brought before it;
B/ Creates a universal right of appeal to WAAT in any disputes about these matters that national legal systems do not settle to the satisfaction of all parties involved;
C/ Authorises WAAT to collect the costs of holding its hearings from the parties to those hearings, as a part of its decsions in those cases;
D/ Requires that WAAT and all of its staff act honestly, and without fear or favour, in these matters.


Borrin o Redwood,
Ambassador to the World Assembly
for the
High Council of Clans,
of the Free Bears of Bears Armed.
Wierd Anarchists
30-07-2008, 14:52
I do not like it. I think WA nations can decide by themselves the taxes.
And on free trade only the import tariffs should be reckoned.

And I also think that people use too much sweeteners already.

But I am not so in favour of free trade, so maybe others have more inputs to your likings.

Regards
Frisbeeteria
30-07-2008, 15:09
There comes a time when developing ursine-friendly proposals crosses the line into silliness. You're hovering on the edge of that here.

Had you included references to pic-a-nic baskets, the Ranger, or Jellystone Park, you would have crossed the line.
Gobbannaen WA Mission
30-07-2008, 18:35
I think the fitness freaks will be after you over this one.
SchutteGod
30-07-2008, 19:09
Sigh... Didn't we already try a "WAAT" in the Ways and Means resolution? Is "WAAT" such an amusing acronym we have to rerun it?
The Altan Steppes
30-07-2008, 19:16
The Trilateral Federation supports free trade. We do not, however, support micromanagement. And a proposal with such a narrow focus as sweeteners is, frankly, too micromanaging to leave a good taste in our mouths. Opposed.

-Irina Misheli, Deputy Ambassador
Quintessence of Dust
31-07-2008, 00:24
I think this should contain some labour regulations as well, to prevent the 'race to the bottom' as confectionery is produced in third world sweetshops.
Allech-Atreus
31-07-2008, 03:26
I'm sorry, we can't support a proposal that ignores the danger posed by international sugar cartels and Sweet-n-Low in seeking to dominate the candy market.

Wens Foroun
Symposium Subjugant
Rubina
31-07-2008, 03:31
Because of the inherent evilness of free trade and the significant role played by natural actors in the production of such sublimely sweet supplies, we would prefer to see an approach that includes protection for the plants and wildlife that are literally the bee's knees in the sweetness industry.
Bears Armed
31-07-2008, 17:09
There comes a time when developing ursine-friendly proposals crosses the line into silliness. You're hovering on the edge of that here.

Had you included references to pic-a-nic baskets, the Ranger, or Jellystone Park, you would have crossed the line.


OOC: Noted. That being so, although I had no plans to mention any of the things that you've just mentioned, I shall refrain from adding condensed milk to the list...

_________________________________________________________________

(shifts to IC responses...)

I think the fitness freaks will be after you over this one.

"Hrrrmph! Let them see how well our athletes, whom I'm sure all love honey, do in the forthcoming Summer Olympics!"

Sigh... Didn't we already try a "WAAT" in the Ways and Means resolution? Is "WAAT" such an amusing acronym we have to rerun it?

"This was just a preliminary draft, to 'test the waters' as it were: We borrowed that designation from the St Edmundan proposal, with their government's permission, simply to have some name for the organisation concerned. If somebody else here can suggest an alternative one that conveys the same general meaning but that sounds better to English-speaking humans then we would certainly be willing to consider it. We would prefer to create an agency that could cover arbitration for ALL sorts of resolutions, rather than just for 'free trade' ones, in order to keep the number of WA committees as low as possible."

The Trilateral Federation supports free trade. We do not, however, support micromanagement. And a proposal with such a narrow focus as sweeteners is, frankly, too micromanaging to leave a good taste in our mouths. Opposed.

-Irina Misheli, Deputy Ambassador

"Do you think that a proposal on free trade in all sorts of food, and perhaps -- as our very good friends from Mikitivity are not currently trying to promote their own proposal about Beer -- in beverages as well, would be better received? We would be willing to try one, if that is the case."

I think this should contain some labour regulations as well, to prevent the 'race to the bottom' as confectionery is produced in third world sweetshops.
I'm sorry, we can't support a proposal that ignores the danger posed by international sugar cartels and Sweet-n-Low in seeking to dominate the candy market.

Wens Foroun
Symposium Subjugant
"This proposal would not prevent nations limiting or banning imports from such producers, would it? I haven't imposed on national sovereignty to that extent..."


Borrin o Redwood,
Ambassador to the World Assembly
for the
High Council of Clans
of
The Confederated Clans of the Free Bears of Bears Armed.
The Altan Steppes
31-07-2008, 17:51
"Do you think that a proposal on free trade in all sorts of food, and perhaps -- as our very good friends from Mikitivity are not currently trying to promote their own proposal about Beer -- in beverages as well, would be better received? We would be willing to try one, if that is the case."

I can't speak for the rest of the WA, but I can say that a more comprehensive free trade proposal concerning foodstuffs and beverages as a whole would most likely be better received by my government. We don't believe in doing things in a piecemeal fashion, as it were.

-Irina Misheli, Deputy Ambassador
Bears Armed
14-05-2009, 15:09
Onwards! (http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=663)