[Draft] Free Trade Bill

[Britain and Northern Ireland (Ancient)]

Her Majesty's government of The United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland proposes that trade between all WA member states should be free and unregulated without let or hindrance.

We call for:

a) the abolition of import/export duty within all WA member states

b) the end of the practice of protectionism within all WA member states

and

c) the end of the practice of adding quotas to foreign trade in all WA member states

Clause I: any nation that does not agree to the proposal shall be allowed to opt out, however, it will then be up to any nation that trades with a state that has opted out of the Free Trade Bill to add tariffs and/or quotas to any trade with said nation

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Clause I: any nation that does not agree to the proposal shall be allowed to opt out, however, it will then be up to any nation that trades with a state that has opted out of the Free Trade Bill to add tariffs and/or quotas to any trade with said nation

That makes the proposal illegal for optionality! Good grief!

- Ms. S. Harper.

[Britain and Northern Ireland (Ancient)]

Clause I: any nation that does not agree to the proposal shall be allowed to opt out, however, it will then be up to any nation that trades with a state that has opted out of the Free Trade Bill to add tariffs and/or quotas to any trade with said nation

That makes the proposal illegal for optionality! Good grief!

- Ms. S. Harper.

Sorry I'm new to all this, if I remove that would the proposal be fine?

[Grays Harbor]

Honestly, we can see no benefit to a blanket abolition of tariffs.

[Droskianishk]

It seems to violate several pieces of legislation already in place most notably Ethics in Trade (EIT). Although this delegate would support any attempt to overturn EIT.

[Kryozerkia]

Unregulated economies? Not going to happen. Not with the resolutions that exist.

How about you just skip this idea entirely? Your proposal seeks to do away with ALL "duty" (read: tariffs), which puts it in conflict with resolution #118: Ethics in International Trade. Yes it requires certain conditions to exist, but if they do, then tariffs are applied, which means that duty or tariffs cannot be completely abolished.

While we're on the topic of economic resolutions, let's just review the others that exist, since there is a chance that in your revision efforts you'll run afoul other existing resolutions.

We have resolution #68: National Economic Freedoms, which grants economic freedom to nations. The last clause in it allows for the previously mentioned resolution to exist. There had been a legality challenge which referenced this resolution when Ethics in International Trade was being drafted. It was found that the last clause of this resolution (#70) allowed for #118 to exist.

Then we have resolution #138: Consumer Product Safety which prohibits the import and export of consumer goods deemed harmful. It also sets a standard for trade when it comes to the safety of goods.

Unregulated commerce would mean that there is a chance for collusion, monopolies/duopolies, cartels, price-fixing and other unethical business practices which seek to undermine the competition. Unfortunately, member nations have to have laws to reign in these practices and others under resolution #70: International Competition Law.

If you still believe you can legislate more on the topic of economic freedom and the like, you're free to try, keeping in mind that it shouldn't contradict or duplicate the above resolutions. You're also advised to read up on the rules for proposals - you can find the thread for that near the top of the forum, it's a sticky.

[Omigodtheykilledkenny]

"...except as restricted by previous legislation issued by this body." That's all a legislator need do to get around previous contradictory statements.

Although the final clause seems to be an outright illegal Optionality provision.

[Morlago]

Illegal for optionality and contradiction. Also, "Her Majesty's government of The United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland" is branding and possible RL reference (although I notice that your nation name is The United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland).

[Monikian WA Mission]

Her Majesty's government of The United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland proposes that trade between all WA member states should be free and unregulated without let or hindrance.

Illegal. Branding. Illegal RL reference.

a) the abolition of import/export duty within all WA member states

Not going to happen the right to tax imports and exports is key to maintaining the national sovereignty of member states.

b) the end of the practice of protectionism within all WA member states

Not going to happen, the right to protect the goods of a state is vital to maintaining the national sovereignty of member states.

c) the end of the practice of adding quotas to foreign trade in all WA member states

Not going to happen. Quota systems are vital to maintaining the national sovereignty of member states.

Clause I: any nation that does not agree to the proposal shall be allowed to opt out, however, it will then be up to any nation that trades with a state that has opted out of the Free Trade Bill to add tariffs and/or quotas to any trade with said nation

Illegal. Optionality.

Also this contradicts all the resolutions mentioned by Kryozerkia.