Alta Italia:
The Most Serene Republic of Alta Italia would be happy to start discussing a trade agreement with the Constitutional Monarchy of Nasania, though it must conclude domestic affairs before any international relations or agreements are decided upon.
(OOC:Apologies for the late reply, been gone for the holidays.)
Understood, we will take this time to make preparations and secure passage for a Royal world tour in several nations in the North Pacific. Along the tour will be ambassadors that will be accredited to respective host nations, provided they are accepted. For Alta Italia we will be sending the Honorable Hajime Anzai. The Nasanian government will be posting the World Tour thread shortly.
[In reply to both Syrixia and Alta Italia]
Now onto the GNPTA: we of Nasania perceive it to be like ebay for nations. Eumenor, Syrixia, and McMasterdonia(and any other willing and able state) supplies ships, we the nations conduct trade, provided that a facilitator gets a cut in the proceeds.
Advantages of this route to poor nations:
-Small, poor nations don't have to support a navy to conduct trade. (Navies cost billions of dollars)
-Secure, neutral trade route (example: Eumenor may provide a navy to GNPTA to fight pirates, but GNPTA is a neutral organization in interstate wars, so the trade ships should be unmolested)
Advantages of this route to rich nations:
-Increased influence in international affairs (think like the Pax Britannica when Britain made trade safe with their powerful navy, more or less)
-Increased income for facilitators of trade
Overall Advantages
Your internal affairs are your business.(National Sovereignty) You don't have to be a democracy to be a member and partake in the benefits of this organization. You could be the most sadistic, evil, oppressive dictatorship in the world and still be a member. This stands in contrast to the Democratic Union who might expel you (I think) if your political/social freedoms drop lower than 'below average'. Syrixia actually was on probation for months because they were a Communist Dictatorship. They had to change their government to be admitted as a full member. McMasterdonia also had a situation with the DU over a crackdown on dissidents/rebels.
GNPTA is not a compulsory free-trade organization. Its purpose is to provide infrastructure(planes, trains, trucks, ships) for trade. If your government wishes to set tariffs that is your choice.
Finally, for the organization to be effective, a bilateral trade agreement between nations must be in place. No trade agreement=no trade route=no use of GNPTA ships. You could theoretically be a member of GNPTA and the ships will be there to facilitate trade, but have no trade with anyone. A nation could even be economically sanctioned by the whole world but still be able to use GNPTA vessels for a nonexistent trade route(a ghost route). This thread is for the trade relations establishment. An added bonus to this thread is other nations who are not members of the GNPTA can trade with Nasania as well. Non-members could benefit from GNPTA indirectly as well if they are trading with a member state. The member state may not be able to afford a navy, but the GNPTA membership fixes that by supplying navy. The trade route can be set up in the GNPTA thread or individually; however, the protocol I am following is the most legalistic route.
Speaking of trade, would you like a complete free trade or a particular trade exchange (e.g. I.T tech for Rare Earth minerals?)