Sunday, 13 Brumaire 185 13:02 LMT
Parliament Approves Treaty with AIW
CH’TAALA, L’NHRAEI (LNN) - Last Friday, President Macpherson and Vice-President t’Khaalis convened a special session of Parliament to vote on the recently-negotiated treaty with the Alliance of Incorporated Worlds. This morning, both houses voted overwhelmingly to approve the treaty.
The Assembly voted 952-48 in favour, and the Senate voted 42-4.
Among the provisions of the treaty include affirmations of peace and mutual recognition between the AIW and the Commonwealth, as well as relaxation of customs and immigration formalities.
Citizens of either nation can visit the other visa-free for up to 90 days, and, upon return, bring back £40 or 1000 Alliance credits worth of merchandise duty-free. The treaty also expands patents and copyrights between the two nations. Both the Commonwealth and the AIW will recognise those granted by the other.
President Macpherson was heavily involved in the negotiations, and has feels the treaty will be good for the Commonwealth. "The Commonwealth already operates duty-free ports and does not require visas, neither do we charge any tariffs. Hopefully the 1000-credit exemption and the lowering of Alliance tariffs will encourage greater trade between our two nations."
The treaty lowers tariffs on all AIW goods other than agricultural products by 0.2 percentage points every six Terran months over five years, for a total reduction of 2 percentage points. The first reduction takes effect on 1 July 2501, or 25 Nivôse.
The AIW’s Council of Maccotia ratified the treaty last week. Parliament’s ratification allows the treaty to take effect immediately.
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