Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement

[Jessolia]

The Government of the Federal Republic of Jessolia has signed the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement proposed. This Reply contains the Sign of The Honorable Head of State - Vice President & Ministry of Economy. We of course are in an urgent demand of the Benefits Proposed in this Agreement.
Alexander Androvich Kramarov (Ministry of Int'l Agreements)

[Chiergamo]

On behalf of the region of Chiergamo, we would like to formally sign this document in order to ensure that future leaders follow these simple, common-sense laws.

- Red
Chien Leader

[LightestHumor]

Signed

[Zemula]

The Republic of Zemula has agreed to this trade agreement.

[Cute Plushies]

The Republic of Cute Plushies has agreed to sign onto the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement.

[Maldico]

In our nation, there is a very hot political debate about the blanket import tax on all products coming into the country; it is a very low tax of 1% and last year it almost got voted by government to raise it to 2%.

Many citizens feel that this tax should be kept on all products because it provides a good source of income for the treasury and it also attracts exports to come to Maldico because of its low import rates, if we were to sign this treaty, would we have to surrender this to the signatories of the agreement?

[Lycrabon]

The joint Congress of the Incorporated States of Lycrabon ratifies the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement.

[Eastweststan]

Eastwesstan would like to join the trade agreement.

[Union of Socialist Alpine Republics]

The socialist paradise of the Union of Socialist Alpine Republics (U.S.A.R.) refuses to sign a trade agreement that will make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

[Goderbia]

The People's Republic of Goderbia has agreed to join the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement

[United Republic of Marcia]

The Congress of the United Republic of Marcia has voted in favor of the ratification of the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement.

[Skanov]

"I, Reinhad Coract, Governor of the Autonomous Republic of Skanov, with permission from Markos Kaine, Sovereign of the Holy Grand Sovereign Empire of Gerburtsurg, hereby sign the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement and bind the Autonomous Republic of Skanov to the terms defined therein. We hope for prosperous trade and relations with the other signatories."

[The Glorious Third Reign of Templedom]

St. Olgsburg Post

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OP-ED

A Treatise On Free Trade
The economist's desk

6th July 2018 10:05 a.m.
Last edited: 12:25 p.m.

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E

ver since the Wealth of Nations energised world trade, through the epochs of mercantilism up through the current digital economy, divergent views have persistently plagued academicians and politicians alike on what benefits nations can derive from free and open mutual trade, to what extent can they protect their own industries and jobs, and indeed, whether nations should participate in free trade agreements at all.

We here at the economist's desk oppose such a naive and fanciful notion that Free Trade will bring prosperity to everyone, everywhere, who joined their hands in exuberant hopes only to reap sorrowful fruits of disappointment, disenfranchisement, and inevitable decay in quality of living. We will present below a short treatise to explain our position. However, in order to best illustrate our arguments to our dear readers, a certain degree of brutal honesty is necessary although we offer no apologies for any hurt feelings (we know you are patriotic Templedomians)!

The Treatise

Free trade, that is, the unfettered flow and/or exchange of (pre-)manufactured products, capital, and technologies, in truth merely benefits nationstates that are - for lack of a better word - special in some way.

We are not the biggest
The nation with the largest rural population will in all likelihood have the largest pool of surplus cheap labour through the much-studied effects of demographic shifts accompanying the process of urbanisation. Generally speaking, this has the effect of smoothening wages to meet the lowest common denominator. This cannot be good for our shared goal of national growth in the fundamentals underpinning our Rule and Strength, namely, a diversified economy, self-sufficiency in production, and high wages.

We are not the brightest
Our level of technology pales in comparison to the most scientifically and technologically-advanced nations in the world. Hence, using the example of the I.T. industry which employs some 25% of our workforce, without government subsidies to assist in research & development, and without vital safeguards against foreign monopoly of our domestic market in I.T. goods and services, our local firms will be unable to compete and thus relegated to those low-margin, low-tech, highly-competitive segments.

We need our weapons manufacturers
While such matters are beyond the scope of our training, we feel that our national security depends on a robust arms manufacturing sector which not only supplies our own defense needs but augment their profitability from time to time with export sales (subject to Senate approval). Due to national security concerns, this strategic sector must be thoroughly insulated from foreign influences and regulated (ie, subsidized) according to our strategic needs. Our weapons manufacturers become exposed to reprisals under the pretext of Free Trade when, for instance, exporting aerospace equipment for the civilian market. This poses a danger of asymmetric warfare waged against us by any other name.

So what can Templedom offer to other nations under the FTA?
A market with high purchasing power. After the initial 'honeymoon' of cheap imports and low-interest credit, Templedomians will face the gloomy prospects of factory closures, unattractive jobs, tightening wages, and mounting consumer debts. One or two specialised industries may very well experience booming business with the removal of trade barriers and de-regulation (uranium mining, insurance companies, etc.) but on the whole, our consumers will be much worse-off. Therefore we cannot make the recommendation to our policy-makers regarding the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement or any other similar proposals.

-- SONA/Econ.

[Karteria]

The Republic of Karteria would like to sign the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement.

[Pinguioris]

Sure, ill sign.

[Duchy of Teutonia]

Nice.

[Knowledge]

Signed on behalf of knowledge

[K14]

K14 Accepts

[Free Republics]

On behalf of the Federation of Free Republics, we hereby sign this free trade agreement and submit it for speedy ratification by the Senate as it is consistent with our long-standing belief that free trade is good for Republican businesses, good for Republican consumers and good for Republican workers. We enter into this agreement on the condition that our doing so does not interfere with our ability to sign separate trade agreements with other nations that are not signatories to this agreement, including nations ineligible to join under sections 3 and 4. We also reserve our sovereign right to immediately withdraw from this agreement at any time and for any reason. While there is nothing in this agreement, to our knowledge, that contradicts the Federation Constitution, in the event that a court deems that such a contradiction exists, the Federation Constitution shall remain the supreme law of the Federation of Free Republics.

- Consul Robert Nicholls & Consul Kyle Bolton

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The Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement has been ratified by the Senate of the Free Republics, under the conditions specified in the joint signing statement of Consul Nicholls & Consul Bolton. The Senate further notes that genocide, democide, chattel slavery, serfdom and forced labor are all explicitly prohibited by the Federation Constitution.

[Liongya]

Liongya officially want to join Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement

[Teufelhounden]

We will agree to sign this....once Father finishes his daily duties....

[Rialfa]

The Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement is hereby signed by Prime Minister Irama Ana Seamorae Ritolvsky on this the 5th day of July 2018.

[Great Winminster]

On behalf of the government of Great Winminster, Her majesty Queen Adeline II, and the Royal ministry of trade, hereby signs and ratifies the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement, taking into account the interests of the government and the population.

[Mount Shavano]

Clear Sky News Network, Headlines in Brief Internet Feed, July 6th

SAN ANGELO - The Laurasian Senate, with the advisory consent of the Federation Assembly, today passed the Reichsburg Free Trade Agreement by a overwhelming margin. President Cloud had previously confirmed he would not exercise his veto power, so as soon as the treaty takes effect the Federation will join the more than one hundred other nations that are already members of this free trade pact. Following the news, analysts issued increased growth forecasts for the third and fourth quarters of this year, and the Harbor Grove Stock Exchange rose sharply.

[Sarkat]

The nation of Sarkat would like to sign.