Atlasian-South Korea Free Trade Bill

[ilikeverin]

Oh, on the amendment?  Nope.

[jerusalemcar5]

Aye on the amendment. 

I will remind my fellow senators that this body passed the Atlasia-India Free Trade Bill one month ago with a nearly identical amendment.  This shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

India exploits children and threatens our jobs much more than South Korea does.  South Korea has a better democracy, better labor laws, and is a complement to our economy.  They are not the same in the slightest.

[Јas]

Nay

[Democratic Hawk]

Aye

'Hawk'

[jerusalemcar5]

Aye

'Hawk'

It is funny that the one free trade bill that will actually help Atlasia, you vote to restrict.

What is your reasoning, may I ask?

[WMS]

Aye.

[Virginian87]

Aye on the amendment. 

I will remind my fellow senators that this body passed the Atlasia-India Free Trade Bill one month ago with a nearly identical amendment.  This shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

India exploits children and threatens our jobs much more than South Korea does.  South Korea has a better democracy, better labor laws, and is a complement to our economy.  They are not the same in the slightest.

I believe you are missing my point, J-Car.  The passage of this amendment should not rely on whether the government of the country is democratic.  I hope my fellow senators don't see that this amendment is unnecessary just because South Korea has higher human rights standards then India. 

Please read my earlier post, which stated my reasoning for this amendment.  You are correct that South Korea has a more democratic government and better labor laws than India.  What you fail to see is that the wages of the South Korean workforce are still cheaper, meaning that it would cost less for Atlasian manufacturing companies to export jobs to Korea than it would to keep them in Atlasia.  Offshore outsourcing would still be a problem if this bill passed without the amendment; in fact it might very well increase.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, South Korea has a highly educated workforce that is willing to work for less.  This could lead to a new and perhaps more threatening kind of offshoring, i.e. that of research and development.  In the last six years, companies like General Electric and United Technologies have begun opening laboratories and research centers in Russia, India, and China.  No doubt that South Korea would be a prime candidate for this type of offshoring if this bill were passed without this amendment. 

I will not stand to see Atlasian professionals lose their jobs, and that is why I believe this amendment is necessary.

[jerusalemcar5]

Aye on the amendment. 

I will remind my fellow senators that this body passed the Atlasia-India Free Trade Bill one month ago with a nearly identical amendment.  This shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

India exploits children and threatens our jobs much more than South Korea does.  South Korea has a better democracy, better labor laws, and is a complement to our economy.  They are not the same in the slightest.

I believe you are missing my point, J-Car.  The passage of this amendment should not rely on whether the government of the country is democratic.  I hope my fellow senators don't see that this amendment is unnecessary just because South Korea has higher human rights standards then India. 

Please read my earlier post, which stated my reasoning for this amendment.  You are correct that South Korea has a more democratic government and better labor laws than India.  What you fail to see is that the wages of the South Korean workforce are still cheaper, meaning that it would cost less for Atlasian manufacturing companies to export jobs to Korea than it would to keep them in Atlasia.  Offshore outsourcing would still be a problem if this bill passed without the amendment; in fact it might very well increase.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, South Korea has a highly educated workforce that is willing to work for less.  This could lead to a new and perhaps more threatening kind of offshoring, i.e. that of research and development.  In the last six years, companies like General Electric and United Technologies have begun opening laboratories and research centers in Russia, India, and China.  No doubt that South Korea would be a prime candidate for this type of offshoring if this bill were passed without this amendment. 

I will not stand to see Atlasian professionals lose their jobs, and that is why I believe this amendment is necessary.

Well I believe we have different economic interpretations then.  I don't believe South Korea really poses much of a threat at all in that regard.

[Democratic Hawk]

Aye

'Hawk'

It is funny that the one free trade bill that will actually help Atlasia, you vote to restrict.

What is your reasoning, may I ask?

Well, although South Korea is no India, I agree with the reasoning put forward by my learned colleague Senator Virginian87 and agreed to support his amendment

'Hawk'

[bgwah]

NAH NAH - NAAHH NAHHH,

NAY NAY NAY

Gooooddd byeee!

[MasterJedi]

This amendment has failed.

[Democratic Hawk]

Well, how about this then? I, hereby, propose the following amendment:

1. No tariffs with the exception of motor vehicles and motor vehicle components 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 Republic of Korea.
2. The following tariffs will apply to the following manufactured goods:
i. Motor vehicles 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. Motor vehicle components shall be subject to 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.

'Hawk'

[Hatman 🍁]

Aye

[jerusalemcar5]

Thank you Hawk.  That is how I mean tto introduce it and plan to introduce my amendment from now on.  I do support this amendment.

[Virginian87]

I'm disappointed that my amendment failed, but I believe Hawk's amendment to be a sufficient compromise.  I will therefore support his amendment as well.

[WMS]

And I'll support Hawk's amendment as well.

[ilikeverin]

Yup, I suppose.

[MasterJedi]

Yup, I suppose.

There's no vote for about an hour yet.

[ilikeverin]

Yup, I suppose.

There's no vote for about an hour yet.

Well then stop confusing me by talking to be about the amendment on AIM

[MasterJedi]

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

1. No tariffs with the exception of motor vehicles and motor vehicle components 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 Republic of Korea.
2. The following tariffs will apply to the following manufactured goods:
i. Motor vehicles 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. Motor vehicle components shall be subject to 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.

[MasterJedi]

Aye

[ilikeverin]

Now yup *ahem*

[Democratic Hawk]

Aye

'Hawk'

[jerusalemcar5]

Aye.

[Jake]

Nay, protectionist drivel crops up again.