[Antrium]

Category: Free Trade
Strength: Significant
Proposed by: Teruchev

Description: The United Nations,

RECOGNISING that protectionist economic policies, by restricting the free flow of trade, seriously hinder the economic development of nations,

CONVINCED that free flow of trade greatly improves economic growth, technological development, and purchasing power, giving all nations the opportunity to specialise on their most efficient industries and acquire goods they are not equiped to produce,

CERTAIN that a common market in the trade of automotive technology and equipment will create economic development, sustainability, and technological dissemination, benefiting all member nations,

ESTABLISHES the United Nations Free Trade Agreement for the Automotive sector (UNFTAA):

-1- REQUIRES all member nations to phase out all protectionist devices in the trade of Automotive technology and equipment, including but not limited to tariffs, duties, production subsidies and import quotas;

-2- ENCOURAGES global cooperation in the development and distribution of automotive technology, with special emphasis on environmentally friendly technology;

-3- URGES member nations to minimise all barriers to free competition, including but not limited to trusts, cartels, dumping, price coordination, and excessive market power, ensuring they do not limit the benefits of the UNFTAA;

-4-AUTHORIZES the United Nations Free Trade Commission (UNFTC) to arbitrate any trade disputes which may arise concerning the interpretation of the UNFTAA;

-5- DECLARES that member nations retain the right to employ retaliatory tariffs towards non-UN nations;

-6- MANDATES a timeline for implementation not exceeding five years in length.

[Antrium]

This resolution is now at vote.

[Antrium]

Any debate?

I'm going to cast our vote some time this weekend, so please vote now if you haven't already.

[Grosseschnauzer]

As a general rule, I support free trade markets.

This proposal benefits from its recognition of environmental concerns with gasoline- based automobiles. Some recognition of fair treatment of labor costs would have made this a better proposal.

I voted FOR, but I see that the UN vote at the moment is heavily against.

[Groot Gouda]

I'm against because I don't want to do this sector by sector. I like free trade though.

[Fonzoland]

Groot: This one is failing, and it is a lot easier to pass than a full FT text.

[Keeslandia]

Remain a free trader at heart and support the resolution.

[Antrium]

Based on these results:
YES [ 7 ] [77.78%]
NO [ 2 ] [22.22%]
ABSTAIN [ 0 ] [0.00%]


I will be casting the region's vote FOR the resolution, although it is unlikely that it will pass.

[Jonquiere-Tadoussac]

Quote: Votes For: 4,431

Votes Against: 7,373[/quote]
It's getting a smackdown .

[Antrium]

The resolution "Auto Free Trade Agreement" was defeated 7,465 votes to 4,477.

Ouch.

[Fonzoland]

We shall not be deafeated! [/FAIRTRADE hat]

[Grosseschnauzer]

I think that the perception that automobiles are not environmentally friendly as well as the absence of clearer pro-environmental and fair labor provisions contributed to its defeat.

[Mikitivity]

FonzolandApr 8 2006, 06:26 AM Groot: This one is failing, and it is a lot easier to pass than a full FT text. [/quote]
A shame ... had my government cast its vote on time, we would have supported this. We prefer incremental trade resolutions. However, we are inclined to agree with the analysis provided by the people from Grosseschnauzer that automotive based topics indirectly impact environmental positions.