[Mikitivity]

Fair Trade of Alcoholic Beverages
A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.

Category: Free Trade
Strength: Mild
Proposed by: Mikitivity

Description:
The NationStates United Nations,

AWARE that in some societies that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal or heavily regulated;

NOTING that other societies allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages, but place heavy tariffs on imported alcoholic beverages, citing both quality of imported products and domestic based economic impacts;

CONVINCED that protective tariffs based solely on protecting and stimulating domestic economies can be detrimental to a free economy;

1. RECOGNIZES the right of UN members in which the actual consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal or heavily regulated to maintain their restrictions on the import of foreign alcohol, provided that these members also do not engage in exporting their own domestically produced alcoholic beverages into other UN member states;

2. DEFINES a protective alcoholic beverages tariff to be any additional tax or charge placed on a similar type of non-domestically produced (i.e. imported) alcohol beverage;

3. ENCOURAGES nations to drop any protective alcohol tariffs on UN members and to freely engage in the global marketing, exporting, and importing of alcoholic beverages;

4. DESIGNATES any nation that has dropped all of its protective alcohol beverage tariffs on UN member imports as being in compliance with this accord;

5. AUTHORIZES any compliant nation to enact specific protective tariffs in response to tariffs placed on its alcoholic beverage exports by individual nations, provided that:

(a) these protective tariffs are limited to only similar alcoholic beverages coming from a nation which first enacted protective tariffs against the compliant nation's exports;

(b) these protective tariffs are approximately equal in net magnitude and / or economic cost;

6. RECOMMENDS that exported alcoholic beverages should list all of their ingredients and alcohol content so that the importing nations may assess both the purity and similarity of the exports.

[Eisophca]

Quote: Fair Trade of Alcoholic Beverages
A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.

Category: Free Trade
Strength: Mild
Proposed by: Mikitivity[/quote]
Yay improves economy!
Quote: 

AWARE that in some societies that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal or heavily regulated;

NOTING that other societies allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages, but place heavy tariffs on imported alcoholic beverages, citing both quality of imported products and domestic based economic impacts;

CONVINCED that protective tariffs based solely on protecting and stimulating domestic economies can be detrimental to a free economy;[/quote]
Looks good.
Quote: 
1. RECOGNIZES the right of UN members in which the actual consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal or heavily regulated to maintain their restrictions on the import of foreign alcohol, provided that these members also do not engage in exporting their own domestically produced alcoholic beverages into other UN member states;[/quote]
Makes sense.
Quote: 
2. DEFINES a protective alcoholic beverages tariff to be any additional tax or charge placed on a similar type of non-domestically produced (i.e. imported) alcohol beverage;[/quote]
I have to think a while to understand this, and it still isn't really clear. What does "similar" reference?
Quote: 
3. ENCOURAGES nations to drop any protective alcohol tariffs on UN members and to freely engage in the global marketing, exporting, and importing of alcoholic beverages;[/quote]
OK.
Quote: 
4. DESIGNATES any nation that has dropped all of its protective alcohol beverage tariffs on UN member imports as being in compliance with this accord;[/quote]
This is a little hard to understand, but it works.
Quote: 
5. AUTHORIZES any compliant nation to enact specific protective tariffs in response to tariffs placed on its alcoholic beverage exports by individual nations, provided that:

(a) these protective tariffs are limited to only similar alcoholic beverages coming from a nation which first enacted protective tariffs against the compliant nation's exports;[/quote]
Again, I don't see what "similar" references.
Quote: 
(B) these protective tariffs are approximately equal in net magnitude and / or economic cost;[/quote]
Good loophole closer
Quote: 
6. RECOMMENDS that exported alcoholic beverages should list all of their ingredients and alcohol content so that the importing nations may assess both the purity and similarity of the exports.[/quote]
I would mandate this, or else say that nations may allow protective tariffs or import bans on alcohol w/o ingredients listed.

[Grosseschnauzer]

My primary concern would be that nations should be able to impose tariffs if they are imposed equally on domestic and imported products, without favoritism.

[Mikitivity]

GrosseschnauzerJan 28 2006, 10:16 AM My primary concern would be that nations should be able to impose tariffs if they are imposed equally on domestic and imported products, without favoritism. [/quote]
First to answer Ceorana's question: similar means beer should be treated like other beer, wine like wine, whiskey like whiskey, vodka like vodka. Now if you claim two beers are different and use that to differentially tax (via a tariff) the import, you've just opened a door to allow other countries to: (1) protest because the products are similar, or (2) throw your logic right back at you.

Now to Grosseschnauzer's question according to this proposal a tariff is an *additional* tax placed on an import. Nations can still place equal taxes on any product. I originally had a clause making that more clear, but felt since nations can already place taxes on items, I didn't need to reaffirm that right. All the proposal is doing is saying that if you place a tariff, others can place the same tariff on your products.

[Grosseschnauzer]

Maybe a reaffirmation clause might be appropriate on that point, then. It would reduce misunderstanding.

[Sober Thought]

Well, I thought the UN free trade agreements would start with manufactured goods rather than distilled goods, but sure. :wacko:

[Mikitivity]

Automobile and steel industries tend to have a might tighter grip domestic legislatures, making it harder to resolve trade conflicts. Alcohol, being a luxury item, already tends to have fairly open import / export industry built around it, so my government was hoping (with serious urging from the Mikitivity Beer Guild) that this might be easier.

We are still considering if we should add back in a clause making it clear that alcoholic beverages can still be taxed.

[Groot Gouda]

I've put up a comment on the jolt forum. It's not explicit enough for me. Besides, as I stated on the automobile free trade, I want free trade for everything, not one sector at a time.

[Mikitivity]

While I understand that, my government (read me) prefers to take smaller steps and come up with weaker approaches when dealing with the entire UN.

Is there a chance we could talk you into abstaining if we moved forward on this? I've also suggested a possible preambulatory clause citing the Powerhungry Chipmunks' Representation in Taxation (FD) resolution from 2005, which might make it clear that nations can still tax alcohol ... they just sholdn't be placing additional tariffs on imports unless they have good reasons.

[Mikitivity]

Current draft with change incorporated based upon regional comments (will be posted to UN as well):

Quote: 
Fair Alcoholic Beverage Trade
A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.

Category: Free Trade
Strength: Mild
Proposed by: Mikitivity

Description:
The NationStates United Nations,

AWARE that in some societies that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal or heavily regulated;

NOTING that other societies allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages, but place heavy tariffs on imported alcoholic beverages, citing both quality of imported products and domestic based economic impacts;

CONVINCED that protective tariffs based solely on protecting and stimulating domestic economies can be detrimental to a free economy;

CONSCIOUS of its resolution Representation in Taxation, adopted Oct. 25, 2005, which established UN standards on national rights regarding domestic tax policies;

1. RECOGNIZES the right of UN members in which the actual consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal or heavily regulated to maintain their restrictions on the import of foreign alcohol, provided that these members also do not engage in exporting their own domestically produced alcoholic beverages into other UN member states;

2. DEFINES a protective alcoholic beverages tariff to be any additional tax or charge placed on a similar type of non-domestically produced (i.e. imported) alcohol beverage;

3. ENCOURAGES nations to drop any protective alcohol tariffs on UN members and to freely engage in the global marketing, exporting, and importing of alcoholic beverages;

4. DESIGNATES any nation that has dropped all of its protective alcohol beverage tariffs on UN member imports as being in compliance with this accord;

5. AUTHORIZES any compliant nation to enact specific protective tariffs in response to tariffs placed on its alcoholic beverage exports by individual nations, provided that:

(a) these protective tariffs are limited to only similar alcoholic beverages coming from a nation which first enacted protective tariffs against the compliant nation's exports;

(B) these protective tariffs are approximately equal in net magnitude and / or economic cost;

6. RECOMMENDS that exported alcoholic beverages should list all of their ingredients and alcohol content so that the importing nations may assess both the purity and similarity of the exports.
[/quote]


What is the character limit for a proposal title? I'd rather go with "Fair Trade of Alcoholic Beverages".

[Antrium]

MikitivityFeb 2 2006, 05:51 PM What is the character limit for a proposal title? I'd rather go with "Fair Trade of Alcoholic Beverages". [/quote]
20 characters.

[Mikitivity]

That is brutally short, but sounds right. :hm:

The best title I can kludge together:
Alcoholic Fair Trade


The Dolphin Protection Act was the full 20.

[Keeslandia]

MikitivityFeb 3 2006, 01:23 AM That is brutally short, but sounds right. :hm:

The best title I can kludge together:
Alcoholic Fair Trade


The Dolphin Protection Act was the full 20. [/quote]
Might I suggest a revision to "Alcohol Fair Trade?"

The previously suggested short title may imply the trafficing of alcoholics which would be using humans as commodities which would be slavery.

FYI, my explanation is said with a partial tongue in cheek, but the suggestion is serious.

Thanks.

[Grosseschnauzer]

Apparently the character limit does not include spaces. Otherwise, both "Dolphin Protection Act" and "Tsunami Warning System" both would have been too long.

[Antrium]

AntriumFeb 2 2006, 07:28 PM MikitivityFeb 2 2006, 05:51 PM What is the character limit for a proposal title? I'd rather go with "Fair Trade of Alcoholic Beverages". [/quote]
20 characters. [/quote]
That was a typo, sorry
After typing in some names, I think the limit is 30 characters. "Fair Trade of Alcoholic Beverages" still doesn't fit, but it's close. Maybe "Fair Trade of Alcohol"?

[Mikitivity]

No worries, I figured out that the limit is 30 ... and thus I present to the region the proposal:

Quote: 
Alcoholic Beverage Trade Pact
A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.

Category: Free Trade
Strength: Mild
Proposed by: Mikitivity

Description:
The NationStates United Nations,

AWARE that in some societies that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal or heavily regulated;

NOTING that other societies allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages, but place heavy tariffs on imported alcoholic beverages, citing both quality of imported products and domestic based economic impacts;

CONVINCED that protective tariffs based solely on protecting and stimulating domestic economies can be detrimental to a free economy;

CONSCIOUS of its resolution Representation in Taxation, adopted Oct. 25, 2005, which established UN standards on national rights regarding domestic tax policies;

1. RECOGNIZES the right of UN members in which the actual consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal or heavily regulated to maintain their restrictions on the import of foreign alcohol, provided that these members also do not engage in exporting their own domestically produced alcoholic beverages into other UN member states;

2. DEFINES a protective alcoholic beverages tariff to be any additional tax or charge placed on a similar type of non-domestically produced (i.e. imported) alcohol beverage;

3. ENCOURAGES nations to drop any protective alcohol tariffs on UN members and to freely engage in the global marketing, exporting, and importing of alcoholic beverages;

4. DESIGNATES any nation that has dropped all of its protective alcohol beverage tariffs on UN member imports as being in compliance with this accord;

5. AUTHORIZES any compliant nation to enact specific protective tariffs in response to tariffs placed on its alcoholic beverage exports by individual nations, provided that:

(a) these protective tariffs are limited to only similar alcoholic beverages coming from a nation which first enacted protective tariffs against the compliant nation's exports;

(B) these protective tariffs are approximately equal in net magnitude and / or economic cost;

6. RECOMMENDS that exported alcoholic beverages should list all of their ingredients and alcohol content so that the importing nations may assess both the purity and similarity of the exports.

Approvals: 37 (Republic of Freedonia, Benfinan, NewTexas, Gaiah, Yeldan UN Mission, Richard2008, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Desert Storm Iraq, Caer Rialis, Futuristic America, Flibbleites, Karistia, New Killiechrankie, Arendias, Paramount Holiness, Zutroy, Love and esterel, The Derrak Quadrant, Pansophia, Deadcross, Wegason, The Kurtish Republic, Grosseschnauzer, A TARDIS, The Weebl, Scotts and Lyon, Vampire Piggies, Kaetoria, Wyfind, Manussa, Randomplaceland, The Protectorates, Fonzoland, Sinsvyka, Peace and Relaxation, New Javert, Palentine UN Office)

Status: Lacking Support (requires 85 more approvals)
Voting Ends: Tue Feb 7 2006
[/quote]

I suspect that Tuesday isn't Tuesday PM, but Tuesday AM, as the proposal is pretty early in the queue. It looks as though without any telegram campaign that this proposal still has only a lukewarm interest. My plan will be to contact and thank the UN Delegates that have endorsed this proposal, but to not campaign for this until March (when I'll actually be able to effectively defend the resolution to the international community).

I added the last preambulatory clause to the resolution based on comments from the IDU.

[Grosseschnauzer]

I will post an approval of the proposal in the proposal queue for you.

[Mikitivity]

GrosseschnauzerFeb 6 2006, 10:32 AM I will post an approval of the proposal in the proposal queue for you. [/quote]
Thanks, and if our region isn't excited about this, my government would completely understand the region asking the Delegate to not endorse the resolution. It is a fairly low-key idea, just don't like my government's beer lobby hear that.