Atlasian-Bahrain Free Trade Bill

[MasterJedi]

Atlasian-Bahrain Free Trade Bill

1. No tariffs, customs, or restrictions on movement of goods, except those that have been outlawed by the destination or interim nation, shall exist between the Republic of Atlasia and Bahrain.
2. The President and other officers of the Atlasian Government shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this bill.
___________________________________________________________

Sponsor: Sen. MasterJedi

[afleitch]

May I ask how many of thse single state trade bills are in the pipeline?

[Ebowed]

May I ask how many of thse single state trade bills are in the pipeline?

Australia, Morocco, Singapore, Bahrain

An Israel/Jordan duo bill will also be on the floor soon.

[MasterJedi]

May I ask how many of thse single state trade bills are in the pipeline?

Australia, Morocco, Singapore, Bahrain

An Israel/Jordan duo bill will also be on the floor soon.

And IIRC that will be all of them.

[afleitch]

Thank you Mr President and Senator MasterJedi

I would like to say that I am pleased with Bahrains bold 'baby' steps towards the most basic democratic reforms since 2001, but I am aware that political Islamists do present a threat with regards to Bahrains bicameral legislature and the right of women to vote. Of course as Bahrain is a fledgling democracy still very much bound to tradition, the sovereign and the clerics even the slightest stall in reform or rollback would pose a major threat to it's position and should that happen I would hope that trading links are taken into account and free trade suspended should this bill pass.

There is of course a restriction on the sale of arms at present and I'm sure this will be maintained.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Why all these countries with dismal human rights records and not ones with our European allies which are the other countries with the highest standards of democracy and human rights in the world? That's basically a slap in the face to them to play favoritism with Middle East dictatorships over them.

[Gabu]

Why all these countries with dismal human rights records and not ones with our European allies which are the other countries with the highest standards of democracy and human rights in the world? That's basically a slap in the face to them to play favoritism with Middle East dictatorships over them.

I do have to ask how on Earth the countries were picked.  A lot of them seem to be rather odd choices to give a high priority.

[Ebowed]

I do have to ask how on Earth the countries were picked.  A lot of them seem to be rather odd choices to give a high priority.

This first batch of free trade bill are with countries that in real-life the U.S. has already entered agreements with.  While the selection of countries may seem a bit odd, it was done solely to catch Atlasia up with the U.S.

[Gabu]

I do have to ask how on Earth the countries were picked.  A lot of them seem to be rather odd choices to give a high priority.

This first batch of free trade bill are with countries that in real-life the U.S. has already entered agreements with.  While the selection of countries may seem a bit odd, it was done solely to catch Atlasia up with the U.S.

Oh, I was wondering what the method to the madness was.

[minionofmidas]

Thank you Mr President and Senator MasterJedi

I would like to say that I am pleased with Bahrains bold 'baby' steps towards the most basic democratic reforms since 2001, but I am aware that political Islamists do present a threat with regards to Bahrains bicameral legislature and the right of women to vote. Of course as Bahrain is a fledgling democracy still very much bound to tradition, the sovereign and the clerics even the slightest stall in reform or rollback would pose a major threat to it's position and should that happen I would hope that trading links are taken into account and free trade suspended should this bill pass.

There is of course a restriction on the sale of arms at present and I'm sure this will be maintained.

It's not democratic at all. I sort of liked it though.

[afleitch]

It's not democratic at all. I sort of liked it though.

By our standards? Of course not, but credit must be given where credit is due. Is it fledgling? Yes, hell its more of a sapling and I'm aware of that, I'm undecided on the free trade bill on Bahrain, and I'm less enthusiastic than I was with Morocco but I just wanted to point out a few things.

[Democratic Hawk]

Well, you know what's coming . I, hereby, introduce the following amendment:

3. This Agreement requires a commitment on the part of Bahrain to make progress towards becoming a fully functioning liberal democracy, with respect for political freedoms and civil rights. This will be monitored by the Secretary of State in accordance with the terms of the Foreign Policy Review Act. Should he determine that Bahrain is regressing on its commitment, and then he shall either (depending on the severity of the regress):

a. Request that the Senate introduce an appropriate tariff either on:

i. Selected Bharaini goods
ii. All Bahraini goods

b. Request that the Senate revoke the Agreement with Bahrain in its entirety

'Hawk'

[MasterJedi]

I hereby open up the vote on this amendment. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

3. This Agreement requires a commitment on the part of Bahrain to make progress towards becoming a fully functioning liberal democracy, with respect for political freedoms and civil rights. This will be monitored by the Secretary of State in accordance with the terms of the Foreign Policy Review Act. Should he determine that Bahrain is regressing on its commitment, and then he shall either (depending on the severity of the regress):

a. Request that the Senate introduce an appropriate tariff either on:

i. Selected Bharaini goods
ii. All Bahraini goods

b. Request that the Senate revoke the Agreement with Bahrain in its entirety

[MasterJedi]

Nay

[Virginian87]

Aye. 

[Keystone Phil]

Nay

[Democratic Hawk]

Aye

'Hawk'

[WMS]

Aye.

[Bacon King]

Aye

[Hatman 🍁]

aye

[ilikeverin]

Yup

[Gabu]

Abstain.

[MasterJedi]

This amendment has passed.

[MasterJedi]

I hereby open up the final vote on this bill. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

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[MasterJedi]

Aye