World Summit - Great World Trade Treaty Ratification

[Khesed Archipelagic Republic]

World Summit Opening Speech
In Regards to
The Great World Trade Network
Trade Agreement Treaty

Proposal by Citadel Tyrio, Foreign Affairs Adviser of Einherfell

 

      Greetings to my fellow representatives of the world summit,
   Since the birth of humanity, trading and bartering has been as much a part of us as anything else that makes us human. Recently, with more nations being officially recognized in landlocked regions, or regions with extreme environmental conditions, it has come to the attention of the Foreign Affairs office of Einherfell that third world countries might be lacking in equal opportunity to reach the level of prosperity of most first world nations. In an effort to raise the global GDP and overall economic standards, we have brought forth an initiative to introduce not just universal trade standards, but also ensure that goods may be exported and imported at will with no inhibitions. In order to achieve such goals, we propose fair trade laws, including, but not limited to, tariff free importation and exportation, good safety regulations, and access to ocean ports for landlocked countries, without restriction based on political standing with the surrounding nations.

   These laws would be set in place in the hopes that we might bring about more peaceful conditions globally, as well as advance society and the standards of living. We have gathered here today to debate and ratify the world summit proposal, The Great World Trade Network Trade Agreement Treaty, which will impose laws protecting the freedoms of landlocked countries, and grant them access to economic prospects. Once the debates and signings are complete, we shall introduce the finalized, ratified document to all the nations that have signed. Without further ado, I, Citadel Tyrio, the Foreign Affairs Adviser of the Empire of Einherfell, signal the beginning of the world summit on the topic of The Great World Trade Network Trade Agreement Treaty. 

[Aelitia]

Response to the Honourable Citadel Tyrio, Foreign Affairs Adviser of Einherfell
By Envoy of Prince Owain V, Rhys Morgans, Esq

In respect of the courageous call to action on such bold ideas which the nation of Einherfell has called a world summit, the Sovereign Estates of Prince Owain V submit the following in Open Letter to the Summit as an observer. 

The Envoy has submitted the below as the summary of points in the Envoy's understanding. First-order points are the summaries, second-order points are the preliminary positions of Nieubasria. 

• This Treaty is suggested to attempt to raise global GDP, overall economic standards, advance society, and standards of living
  • Appreciable goals which the Estates-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Mission to Third Nations have been seeking increased international involvement on. The Estate's Ministry published a 3-year outlook on foreign affairs and development which outlines similar goals to which international assistance spending will be directed - in particular interest in this phase of the outlook is "Small and medium organizations for impact and innovation" and "Development innovation".
  • Nieubasria is supportive of initiatives which have synergism with the Estates-Ministry of Foreign Affairs' outlook. 
• Implement universal trade standards
  • "Universal" trade standards are a broad area of discussion, and should be granulated. In particular, two major areas are identified- Standardization (processes, measures, technical regulation) and Internationalization (political regulation). While the opening statement tends towards Internationalization, it is argued that Standardization of the fundamental blocks of a system should be priority. In illustration, Standardization may include the definition of the size of sea/rail shipping containers whereas the Internationalization may include the imposition of a universal Customs schedule. 
  • Nieubasria will be seeking a direction of this conversation towards the Standardization of processes, measures, and technical regulation. Internationalization should be a secondary endeavour. 
• Allow goods be exported and imported at will with no inhibitions and without tariff
  • Unrestricted trade is a danger to citizens, businesses, and entire economies. Without the ability to protect sensitive sectors or safeguard jobs, the world's economy will become a race to the bottom. The lowest bidder will win, and the cost will be the livelihood of all - particularly workers in underdeveloped countries. These risks are all exacerbated in the consideration of security - which there would be none in a "no inhibitions" customs regime. Illegal drugs, weapons, and counterfeit items will flood into the 'opened' economies. The goal of an open world is admirable, but the social norms of a global economy are not yet in place. 
  • Nieubasria shall not be party to any agreement which requires an inhibition-free trade environment. 
• Fair trade laws
  • With near certainty, this footnote will be leaned upon as a solution to issues raised in this open letter. While Nieubasria believes in creating networks of fair trade and preventing the worst excesses of exploitative trade practices, to wholesale enforce fair trade practices is an invitation to subvert them. Many arguments on fair trade will be distilled into questions of morality, and one cannot legislate morality. 
  • Nieubasria encourages all involved nations to implement incentives for domestic companies and producers to move the world along to a system of fairer trade, but will not support the blanket suggestion of 'fair trade' as panacea. 
• Goods safety regulations
  • There exist some products or compounds which are so dangerous to the human body or the environment that any reasonable person would not permit their use. The suggestion of removing the ability for nations to decide to what levels or in which processes compounds may be used is severely limiting, and new information constantly comes to the surface on the risks any compound can pose.
  • Nieubasria will not support the Internationalization of safety regulations at this time without significant protections to national regulatory processes. 
• Impose laws protecting the freedoms of landlocked countries, particularly ensuring access to ocean ports without restriction of political standing with the surrounding nations
  • This is an egregious violation of the principles of national sovereignty, security, and territoriality. Port-sharing, while certainly valuable for land-locked nations such as ourselves, is an intensely 'intimate' sharing agreement between individual nations or blocs of nations - imposing this on any nation is unacceptable, particularly given the proposed disregard for the political situation between them and the abolition of tariffs and 'inhibitions' to the transfer and trade of goods. Ports should remain distinctly within the administration and entire competency of their own nation, and should not become de-facto international land. 
  • Nieubasria shall not be party to any agreement or treaty which imposes such a wholesale restriction on sovereignty and security. 

 

Regards, Rhys Morgans, Esq

[Clarkov]

Blumiere Dooku

Minister of Foreign and World Assembly Affairs

Sunday 12th January 2020

The Confederal Kingdom of Hertfordshire and Jammbo

+3 80854 582 979

Citadel Tyrio

Foreign Affairs Adviser

The Empire of Einherfell

 

Dear Mr. Citadel Tyrio,

This looks like an interesting and very ambitious project that you and your team have thought of. It goes without saying that this letter is in response to the deal and it's details, as well as informing you of the position that Hertfordshire and Jammbo holds on the matters addressed.

Universal Trade Standards: The form of universal trade standards that I joined the agreement for was standardization, because Hertfordshire and Jammbo are increasingly annoyed at the lack of such a thing, and wish for free trade deals to be easier to arrange, without all the red tape of differing trade standards. I did not sign up for any internationalization of free trade. Upon showing this to the Prime Minister, he and I expressed our concerns with any possible internationalisation within this trade deal. For starters, many nations have different currencies. Take the Delta Pound and the Mira for example. Differing currencies in free trade deals may lead to a loss in revenue for any one of the nations involved, depending on how strong or weak their currency is compared to the rest of the nations involved in the trade deal. Hertfordshire and Jammbo do not wish to be part of a trade deal if we are going to lose economic revenue.

Goods may be exported and imported at will with no inhibitions: I will not under any circumstances back a deal that allows unrestricted trade. Part of my job is to protect Hertfordian businesses and workers on the global scale, and this includes the ability to place tariffs on industries that threaten them. If inhibition-free trade is allowed, this prevents the nation from placing tariffs to benefit it's people, and leaves them vulnerable to job outsourcing, which ultimately threatens their livelihoods and the Jammbonian economy as a whole. Free trade is good and all, but a nation must be allowed to engineer deals in a way that benefits their nation, even if that includes inhibitions.

Fair Trade: This is a mixed bag. Hertfordshire and Jammbo recgonises that it allows small businesses here to climb to the international stage and prevent exploitation of workers by the large corporations. However, due to the guaranteed minimum price, there is no drive to become more efficient, often leading to the customer paying more for reasons that cannot be justified in the world of business. Hertfordshire and Jammbo overall approves of the inclusion of fair trade, but it is not the perfect solution.

Goods safety regulations: This I can see being a good idea, but I wonder what standards there would be, as nations across the world have different definitions and even more different ideas regarding what constitutes an unsafe product. It would require most nations to give up their currently implemented laws on the safety of products, which depending on what nation the international laws are closest to would likely limit or even prevent nations from keeping out products that they deem to be unsafe. Because of this, I have recommended to the Prime Minister that we do not endorse this policy.

Access to ocean ports for landlocked countries, without restriction based on political standing with the surrounding nations: OK, now this takes the cake. I ask, as an individual and as a representative of the government and the people of Hertfordshire and Jammbo, what would the sense be of allowing landlocked nations, regardless of political relationship, unfettered access to a nations ports? This would be an appalling attack on the sovereignty of the world's countries including the one I represent. We refuse to allow any other nation unrestricted access to our ports, such as Parndon Port, the 6th largest container port in the continent. Hertfordshire and Jammbo's ports belong to Hertfordshire and Jammbo. I see why landlocked nations may like this, but I say this now, a port that is in the territory of a country is de jure the territory of that country. Also, completely shunning the political relationship of two or more nations is highly irresponsible and may lead to possible conflict if the two have negative views of the other as a whole. Hertfordshire and Jammbo blatantly refuses to be a part of this deal if this proposal is included. Our sovereignty, security, and territorial rights are too valuable.

In conclusion, there are many aspects of the global deal that Hertfordhsire and Jammbo are willing to accept, such as fair trade, but there are also aspects which we will never accept, such as unrestricted access for landlocked nations to ports of other nations. The government is in discussion as of tomorrow to weigh up the pros and cons and decide whether Hertfordshire and Jammbo should sign on to the world trade treaty. I will be recommending that they do not pursue this deal in its current form, but at the end, it is the choice of me and the Prime Minister whether this goes through the Verkhovna Anglia, and then the choice of King Charles I as to this gaining royal assent. It has been nice writing this letter to you.

Sincerely,

Blumiere Dooku, Minister of Foreign Affairs

[Fuentana]

Dear Minister Tyrio,

By the authority derived from our Royal and Elected Office, ultimately sourced by the Light that was revealed and confirmed by national consensus, we hereby authorize the Fuentana Trade Mission, co-chaired by the eminent Professor Edgar Biologicos of Spring City University and by our esteemed Parliamentary colleague Anne-Marlene Mahieux of the House of Luminaries, to represent one of our principal concerns in the Free Trade Act now under consideration.

Thus far, the terms of the Free Trade Agreement are amenable to us, with one exception. Chief on the minds of our citizens and therefore our leaders is the need to balance Free Trade with proper environmental safeguards. Our nation sits on an island that touches the Infinite World Ocean, the Barry Sea, the Darkesian Sea, the Yatasail Sea, and through these Seas, the Great Pacific. Moreover, many nations, including ours, depend on the ecotourism industry.

Recognizing the sovereignty of the great nations gathered here, as well as the practical realities involved—namely that the development of an environmentally-friendly free trade pact will be the result of a long-term process of investment and collaboration, we will limit our remarks to the following two point proposal that nations may apply as uniquely as needed.

·      That signatories of the Free Trade agreement commit to a three-year process of graduated improvements in industry and trade to ensure that Free Trade is also environmentally sustainable. Desirable improvements may include: investing in biodegradable packaging, minimizing the generation of hazardous waste byproducts by 20% by the end of the three year window, agreeing to randomized safety checks of sea, air, and land freight transports. Though each nation is free to determine the specifics for enacting such policies, the 20% reduction in any hazardous waste byproduct particular to the goods produced by their nation seems a reasonable goal that will ensure the region’s long-term ability to engage in trade.

·      That signatories also agree to outlaw the transportation of hazardous wastes without universally affirmed standards for the management of such wastes. This goes above national sovereignty: given the harmful long-term effects that things such as nuclear waste and harmful byproducts of any complex good, management of such goods must be stringent. The region cannot afford the effects of the accidental release of nuclear waste.

Our Trade Mission will continue the deliberation on the particulars and has full authority to vote for or against the final product on our behalf.

Please be assured of our hopes for a successful summit.

 

[Aelitia]

On 1/11/2020 at 7:34 PM, Aelitia said:

Response to the Honourable Citadel Tyrio, Foreign Affairs Adviser of Einherfell
By Envoy of Prince Owain V, Rhys Morgans, Esq

In respect of the courageous call to action on such bold ideas which the nation of Einherfell has called a world summit, the Sovereign Estates of Prince Owain V submit the following in Open Letter to the Summit as an observer. 

The Envoy has submitted the below as the summary of points in the Envoy's understanding. First-order points are the summaries, second-order points are the preliminary positions of Nieubasria. 

• This Treaty is suggested to attempt to raise global GDP, overall economic standards, advance society, and standards of living
  • Appreciable goals which the Estates-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Mission to Third Nations have been seeking increased international involvement on. The Estate's Ministry published a 3-year outlook on foreign affairs and development which outlines similar goals to which international assistance spending will be directed - in particular interest in this phase of the outlook is "Small and medium organizations for impact and innovation" and "Development innovation".
  • Nieubasria is supportive of initiatives which have synergism with the Estates-Ministry of Foreign Affairs' outlook. 
• Implement universal trade standards
  • "Universal" trade standards are a broad area of discussion, and should be granulated. In particular, two major areas are identified- Standardization (processes, measures, technical regulation) and Internationalization (political regulation). While the opening statement tends towards Internationalization, it is argued that Standardization of the fundamental blocks of a system should be priority. In illustration, Standardization may include the definition of the size of sea/rail shipping containers whereas the Internationalization may include the imposition of a universal Customs schedule. 
  • Nieubasria will be seeking a direction of this conversation towards the Standardization of processes, measures, and technical regulation. Internationalization should be a secondary endeavour. 
• Allow goods be exported and imported at will with no inhibitions and without tariff
  • Unrestricted trade is a danger to citizens, businesses, and entire economies. Without the ability to protect sensitive sectors or safeguard jobs, the world's economy will become a race to the bottom. The lowest bidder will win, and the cost will be the livelihood of all - particularly workers in underdeveloped countries. These risks are all exacerbated in the consideration of security - which there would be none in a "no inhibitions" customs regime. Illegal drugs, weapons, and counterfeit items will flood into the 'opened' economies. The goal of an open world is admirable, but the social norms of a global economy are not yet in place. 
  • Nieubasria shall not be party to any agreement which requires an inhibition-free trade environment. 
• Fair trade laws
  • With near certainty, this footnote will be leaned upon as a solution to issues raised in this open letter. While Nieubasria believes in creating networks of fair trade and preventing the worst excesses of exploitative trade practices, to wholesale enforce fair trade practices is an invitation to subvert them. Many arguments on fair trade will be distilled into questions of morality, and one cannot legislate morality. 
  • Nieubasria encourages all involved nations to implement incentives for domestic companies and producers to move the world along to a system of fairer trade, but will not support the blanket suggestion of 'fair trade' as panacea. 
• Goods safety regulations
  • There exist some products or compounds which are so dangerous to the human body or the environment that any reasonable person would not permit their use. The suggestion of removing the ability for nations to decide to what levels or in which processes compounds may be used is severely limiting, and new information constantly comes to the surface on the risks any compound can pose.
  • Nieubasria will not support the Internationalization of safety regulations at this time without significant protections to national regulatory processes. 
• Impose laws protecting the freedoms of landlocked countries, particularly ensuring access to ocean ports without restriction of political standing with the surrounding nations
  • This is an egregious violation of the principles of national sovereignty, security, and territoriality. Port-sharing, while certainly valuable for land-locked nations such as ourselves, is an intensely 'intimate' sharing agreement between individual nations or blocs of nations - imposing this on any nation is unacceptable, particularly given the proposed disregard for the political situation between them and the abolition of tariffs and 'inhibitions' to the transfer and trade of goods. Ports should remain distinctly within the administration and entire competency of their own nation, and should not become de-facto international land. 
  • Nieubasria shall not be party to any agreement or treaty which imposes such a wholesale restriction on sovereignty and security. 

 

Regards, Rhys Morgans, Esq

With respect to the quoted letter dated January 11th, the Sovereign Estates of Nieubasria wishes to prompt discussion on a wider basis. 
 

Those third parties which share goals common to the open letter may contact their appropriate diplomatic mission, or in its absence, the Permanent Mission to Third Nations. 
To all who read, best wishes.