[Metrobeans]

EU Bloc Free Trade Pact - Czech Republic, MHoC

Article 1: Effects of the Pact

1.1. A ‘World Free Trade Zone’ (WFTZ) shall be established
1.2. All signatories of this Pact must also be members of the WFTZ
1.3. Beginning on the 1st April 2013 it shall be illegal to place any ‘restrictions’ on goods that are being imported between any two nations that are in the WFTZ
1.4. For the purposes of this Pact, ‘restrictions’ includes tariffs and import quotas

Article 2: Developing Nations

2.1 All signatories to this Pact must refrain from imposing restrictions on trade with nations that rank in the bottom 50% of the Human Development Index regardless of whether such a nation is party to the WFTZ.
2.2 This rule shall not apply to underdeveloped nations identified under 3.3

Article 3: Application to join

3.1. Any nation represented in the (M)UN and not currently a member of the WFTZ or on the 'list' may ask the Secretary General be added to the Pact
3.2. The nation is then added as a signatory of the Pact with immediate effect
3.3. Once the Pact has been ratified the original co-submitters must produce a 'list' of nations that shall be banned from the Pact due to consistent and serve breaches of human rights
3.4. The 'list' shall be accepted with a 75% majority over a two day vote; all EU bloc members may vote on the original 'list'
3.5. Any member of the WFTZ can submit a motion to remove a specific nation from the 'list,' providing that two other members of the WFTZ co-submit the motion
3.6. After a five day discussion the motion shall pass to a two day vote; if a majority of 75% votes in favour, then the nation in question is removed from the 'list' and is free to apply to join the WFTZ

Article 4: Leaving the Pact/WFTZ

4.1. A sovereign government may decide to withdraw its signature from the Pact, provided that at least two months notice is given beforehand
4.2. Any member of the WFTZ can submit a motion to add a specific nation to the 'list,' providing that two other members of the WFTZ co-submit the motion
4.3. After a five day discussion the motion shall pass to a two day vote; if a majority of 75% votes in favour, then the nation in question is added to the 'list' and can no longer apply to join the WFTZ
4.4. The nation in question is also removed from the WFTZ with immediate effect if it was already a member

Article 5: Other treaties

5.1. This Pact takes priority over all other trade treaties where there is a clash, but does not annul other treaties
5.2. Commencing on the 1st April 2013, the European Economic Area shall be split into the European Free Movement Area (EFMA) and the European Free Trade Zone (EFTZ)
5.3. The EFMA will remain a separate entity from the WFTZ, and shall remain under EU control
5.4. The EFTZ shall be incorporated into the WFTZ

Article 6: Enforcement

6.1. An ‘Trade Enforcement’ committee shall be set up to make sure that all countries comply with article 1
6.2. Each country that has signed this Pact is entitled to one representative on the committee

Article 7: List of current signatories

7.1. Each member of the EU Bloc shall become a signatory of the Pact upon ratification

Article 8: Commencement and Short Title

8.1 This Treaty may be cited as the Free Trade Pact ; and
8.2. Shall come into force on the 1st April 2013 following ratification by the national Parliament of each member state.

[internetguru]

This is huge and means we can leave the EU without damaging the economy?

[toronto353]

(Original post by internetguru)
This is huge and means we can leave the EU without damaging the economy?

Basically the economic argument has gone. The EU doesn't control free trade. Free trade is now worldwide as a result of this pact.

[jesusandtequila]

Absolutely.

[internetguru]

(Original post by toronto353)
Basically the economic argument has gone. The EU doesn't control free trade. Free trade is now worldwide as a result of this pact.

Ground breaking move I expect the house to immediately vote to leave the EU now.

[stanlas]

(Original post by internetguru)
This is huge and means we can leave the EU without damaging the economy?

Not exactly. The problem is that one of the EU countries vetoed this (we still don't know which one as they didn't give a reason), which means that this is a Pact, not a Treaty. As such it only includes 7 EU nations at the moment, so we would lose trade with the other 20 if we leave.
Our priority should be to seek to expand this Pact now.

[stanlas]

(Original post by toronto353)
Basically the economic argument has gone. The EU doesn't control free trade. Free trade is now worldwide as a result of this pact.

Well, we're still missing some 20 EU countries regrettably. And we still don't know how many countries will join, so its a bit early to conclude that its worldwide now.

Plus the freedom of movement zone is still EU controlled, and as much as people may occasionally complain about immigrants (wrongly so by the way), the UK does benefit from it; think about British pensioners living in Spain for example. Or in fact any British person working in any EU country.

[Keckers]

This is fantastic. Aye form me.

[JPKC]

There won't ever be a "World Free Trade Zone" since only half of all countries need to join in order to benefit.

[toronto353]

(Original post by stanlas)
Not exactly. The problem is that one of the EU countries vetoed this (we still don't know which one as they didn't give a reason), which means that this is a Pact, not a Treaty. As such it only includes 7 EU nations at the moment, so we would lose trade with the other 20 if we leave.
Our priority should be to seek to expand this Pact now.

Not necessarily. First of all, we don't know if it was an EU country which vetoed this. If it wasn't, then it's a treaty and legally applies to all member states.

(Original post by stanlas)
Well, we're still missing some 20 EU countries regrettably. And we still don't know how many countries will join, so its a bit early to conclude that its worldwide now.

Plus the freedom of movement zone is still EU controlled, and as much as people may occasionally complain about immigrants (wrongly so by the way), the UK does benefit from it; think about British pensioners living in Spain for example. Or in fact any British person working in any EU country.

If it's a treaty, then it applies to all member states and I'm hoping to look at the freedom of movement and see what we could do about that with regards to expanding it in much the same way.

[xXedixXx]

Nay. Nations should have some flexibility to place restrictions on what's coming into their country.

[toronto353]

(Original post by JPKC)
There won't ever be a "World Free Trade Zone" since only half of all countries need to join in order to benefit.

We will be working on getting more countries to sign this in the MUN once this House has ratified the Pact. The MHoC is the last country to ratify this Pact.

[tehFrance]

Nope.

[toronto353]

(Original post by tehFrance)
Nope.

Why not?

[stanlas]

(Original post by toronto353)
We will be working on getting more countries to sign this in the MUN once this House has ratified the Pact. The MHoC is the last country to ratify this Pact.

We'll also need to make that list at some point.

[Rakas21]

Aye.

The treaty itself is a strong step forward in global economic unity and prosperity though i do hope that we are not forced with nations who are not democratic.

As for the EU, there is still the aspect of political intergration which motivates some to stay in.

[internetguru]

(Original post by Rakas21)
Aye.

The treaty itself is a strong step forward in global economic unity and prosperity though i do hope that we are not forced with nations who are not democratic.

As for the EU, there is still the aspect of political intergration which motivates some to stay in.

Why would we want political integration it isn't democratic and the people don't want it. If this passes all logical reasoning to remain in the EU is gone.

[MacDaddi]

Aye!

[barnetlad]

Aren't many of the countries in the bottom 50% often countries who would be judged to fail the human rights test?

[RoryS]

(Original post by xXedixXx)
Nay. Nations should have some flexibility to place restrictions on what's coming into their country.

No - I agree with my Rt. Honourable friend.