Atlasia-India Free Trade Bill

[afleitch]

Yes, I believe the problem of white-collar jobs being moved overseas is an issue, which can, and, more importantly, should, be addressed with other appropriate legislation

'Hawk'

I concur with the Senator. While it is outwith my briefing as Secretary of State to discuss matters of national economic interest I believe that free trade has a foundation in both economic and foreign policy. Both must be argued and debated. My own support for the bill is on purely diplomatic reasons yet I am also aware of the economic implications of the bill on Atlasian industry and on the lives of our citizens.

Yet India cannot and should not be held aloft as a lone scapegoat for economic uncertainty and neither should sound foreign policy be sacrified in order to appease economic woes. Atlasia faces dozens of international economic competitors, who are also political allies with whom we freely trade including our friends and allies in Europe. It is, as Senator Hawk has suggested, far more sensible to deal with the problems of outsourcing and other economic pressures within a seperate piece of legislation.

[MasterJedi]

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

1. No tariffs with the exception of manufactured goods only , 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 India.
2. The following tariffs will apply to the following manufactured goods:
i. High-technological products and non-technological manufactured goods valued at over $500 shall be subject to an ad valorem tariff of 10% [i.e. a fixed % of the value of the good that is being imported].
ii. High-technological products and non-technological manufacturing products valued at $500 or under and non-technological products shall be subject to an ad valorem tariff of 20% [i.e. a fixed % of the value of the good that is being imported] .
3. The President and other officers of the Atlasian Government shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
4. This Agreement requires a commitment on the part of India to make progress in improving pay and working conditions; and taking steps to reduce, and ultimately, abolish, exploitative child labor practices. This will be monitored by the Secretary of State. Should he determine that India is making steady progress in fulfilling these commitments then he shall request that the Senate
either reduce, or abolish, such tariffs as stipulated in Section 2 Clauses i. and ii. of this Act; however, should he determine that pay and working conditions ever deteriorate and exploitative child labor practices ever increase, then he shall request that the Senate either increase such tariffs as stipulated in Section 2 Clauses i. and ii. of this Act, or extend beyond manufactured goods as stipulated in Section 1. 

[Democratic Hawk]

Aye

'Hawk'

[MasterJedi]

Abstain

[WMS]

Aye.

[Speed of Sound]

Aye

[Bacon King]

Nay. I'm opposed to the modification of the first two clauses- this is supposed to be a free trade bill, not a hodge-podge of bureaucracy.

[Hatman 🍁]

aye

[Virginian87]

Aye.

[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

[Hatman 🍁]

nay

[Democratic Hawk]

Aye

'Hawk'

[MasterJedi]

Vote Tally

2 Aye (MasterJedi, Dave Hawk)
1 Nay (EarlAW)

[WMS]

Aye.

[Bacon King]

eh, aye.

[Virginian87]

Aye. 

Should this pass, it will be a great victory for both free traders and Atlasian workers.  I propose that the next economic action of the Senate should be to introduce a resolution on protecting Atlasian white-collar workers. 

[MasterJedi]

New Vote Tally

5 Aye (MasterJedi, Dave Hawk, WMS, Bacon King, Virginian87)
1 Nay (EarlAW)

[ilikeverin]

Yup

[MasterJedi]

This bill has enough votes to pass. Senators now have 24 hours to change their votes.

[MasterJedi]

With 6 Ayes, 1 Nay and 0 Abstentions this bill has passed. I hereby present it to the President for his signiture.

[Ebowed]

Ebowed