Ethical Trade





- a Framework for Ethical International Trade - Christian Felber -

 

 

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  • "trade is not a goal in - and of itself !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "the term "free trade" - is subsequently a misnomer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "trade can be valuable, and protection can make sense - it depends on the circumstances !"

 

 

 

 

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  • "but none of them should be taken - to the extreme !"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "it is not worth striving for export ratios of 100% - where everything that would be produced anywhere, would be exported - and everything that would be consumed, would be imported from somewhere else !"

 

 

 

 

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  • "likewise, it would be blind and harmful - to close down borders - and stop trade completely !"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "in the public debate, nobody is calling for - either of these extremes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "nevertheless, the terms "free trade" - and "protectionism" - refer to exactly these extremes !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "a reasonable trade policy - regards trade - as a means !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "and enhances it in a way - that it helps to achieve the diverse goals !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "of economic - social - and ecological policy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "these policies limit - and regulate trade !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "and when there are conflicts with these diverse and legitimate policy goals - the policy goals have to be protected !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "trade is a tool, a means - which can be utilized in different fashions !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "depending on how trade policy is implemented - either the positive or negative effects will come to fruition !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "therefore trade in slaves, organs, or poisonous waste is forbidden - and few would argue to the contrary !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "trade policy must abide by the fundamental values - guiding society !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "from human dignity - to sustainable development - to the common good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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- therefore there is a Call for an Ethical Trade Policy:

 

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  • "an international trade regime - that serves the "universal good of the whole"  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "can be regarded a - global public good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "its rules have to be democratic - transparent - fair - and sustainable !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "the best place for such a public good to be anchored - is the United Nations Organization !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "the UNO is the core of the international law - and it provides all necessary frameworks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "for an efficient - and just trade regime !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "human rights - labour norms - environmental agreements !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "climate protection - and sustainable development goals !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "the "WTO treaties" could be part of this system - but they intentionally had been concluded outside the UN !"

 

 

 

 

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  • "( had tried to avoid these existing global standards - and policies ! )"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "they had one-sided "free trade" - which is not a goal in and of itself !"

 

 

 

 

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  • "a trade-is-an-end-in-itself approach - should fade out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "particularly the US and the EU should not aim at an agreement - outside the UN system ! - ( TTIP - TTP )"

 

 

 

 

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  • "but should work to strengthen it - and serve as role models !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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- Trade should serve universal Goals and Values - starting with Human Rights:

 

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  • "the goals for which trade is a means are - the full implementation of all human rights !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "Sustainable Development Goals - cultural diversity - rights of the Nature !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "as well as frequent constitutional values such as justice - solidarity - and human dignity !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "trade should at least not hinder - these goals !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "those countries that ratify and comply - with UN conventions and agreements !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "on human rights - labour norms - tax cooperation - cultural diversity - environmental - and climate protection !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "and who agree on a "UN Ethical Trade Agreement" - ie. initially 30 countries !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "protect their higher commitments and standards - both against non-ratifiers and non-compliers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "they can, for example, place a 20% custom - on imports from countries !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "that have not ratified a particular - human rights agreement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "a 10% tariff for countries - that have not ratified climate agreements !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "and 3% - for each core labor standard set by the International Labor Organization - ILO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "this ethical tariff system creates an incentive - to ratify and comply with the existing UN agreements !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "the consequence is a "level playing field" - concerning human rights !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "labor norms - social security - and environmental protection !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "and sufficiently high walls of protection against dumpers - freeriders - and true "opponents of globalization"  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "finally, "soft" UN regulations in the area of human rights - worker’s rights - and climate justice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "become "hard" - international law !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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- non-Reciprocity between unequal Trade Partners:

 

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  • "historically, "industrial" countries had used protectionist measures - up until 1945, the US imposed duties on imports of up to 45% !"

 

 

 

 

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  • "countries in the WTO, were calling for "free trade" between countries - with a lower degree of industrial and technological development !"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "this is obviously - unfair !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "poorer countries should be able to sufficiently protect their markets - until they have "caught up"  !"

 

 


 

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  • "they should be able to use the same "ladder" to get over the wall of development - that other countries previously took advantage of !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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- democratic Freedom:

 

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  • "development strategies framed around self-determination - and individual design - are very important !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "and often more efficient - than "one-size-fits-all" strategies !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "this includes that trade partners cannot take legal actions - against democratically-legitimized regulations !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "neither on the basis of "WTO" - nor bilateral treaties !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "that investors cannot challenge "indirect expropriation" - nor "unfair treatment"  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "and that sovereign countries are not limited in regulating investment - according to their needs and political priorities !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "as for a principle, no country should be forced to open its markets - more than it wants to !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "Dani Rodrik coins the slogan: - "we need a - smart globalization !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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- Localization, economic Subsidiarity, Resilience, and cultural Diversity:

 

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  • "globalization must be the salt - in the local economic soup !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "where you import specialized goods - and specialized services - through the "global market"  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "whoever bakes their bread themselves - and grows the grain themselves !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "is independent - also of fluctuations and crises !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "this applies to virtually all parts - economic dependencies should be kept to a minimum !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "John Maynard Keynes writes: - "ideas, knowledge, science, hospitality, travel - these are the things which should of their nature - be international !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""

 

 


 

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  • "but let goods be homespun - whenever it is reasonably and conveniently possible !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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- avoid Trade Imbalances:

 

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  • "principles 4 and 5 could invite a country to implement mercantilistic strategies - to limit importations or promote exportations at the cost of others !"

 

 

 

 

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  • "creating trade imbalances - and global injustice !"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "Lord Keynes, recognizing that trade imbalances - would lead to global instability !"

 

 

 

 

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  • "provided a clear tool for an international trade equilibrium - which could be properly implemented within the UN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "the so-called "Clearing Union" calculates all internationally traded goods and services - in a new currency !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "the so-called "Bancor" - today, we can better call it - "Globo" - or "Terra"  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "this global reserve does not replace - but complement national currencies - for the international economic exchange !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "both countries with a trade deficit and a surplus - would either re/devalue their currency - or pay a fine according to the deviation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "to have not too uneven trade balances - is the core of a fair global trade agreement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "again, every country is free to be as open/closed as it wishes - it just cannot enhance exportations !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "or limit importations - at the cost of others !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "it is less competition - and more economic cooperation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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- making it harder for transnational Corporations:

 

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  • "some transnational corporations should be smaller - and must not present a danger to freedom and democracy !"

 

 

 

 

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  • "corporations should, therefore, be required to live up - to their responsibilities towards society by:  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "growing only to a certain size - e.g. maximum turnover / total assets of US$ 50 billion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "obtaining only a certain percentage of the world market - e.g. 0,5 % !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "democratizing internal structures - when they become larger - progressive atomization of property and voting rights !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "and be required to complete a - "Common Good Balance Sheet"  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "the result of this ethical balance sheet will provide companies - with legal incentives by reducing their taxes, customs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "and by helping them in the areas of public procurement - grants - and loan conditions !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "companies that fail to meet these standards - lose access to the "ethical trade zone" - within the United Nations !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "once these standards become commonplace - the concentration of power - and the proliferation of corruption - will decrease !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "furthermore, the common good balance sheet - will invert the race !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "into a race - to the top !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "the better its result, the freer companies can trade and invest - or get market access !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "the poorer the result, the higher the difficulties they encounter - from tariffs to denial of market access !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

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  • "the "license to trade" - depends on a company’s contribution to the common good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

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  • "as a consequence, ethical companies - will win over less ethical ones !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 


 

 

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  • "creating an ethical - market economy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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a Framework for Ethical International Trade - Christian Felber: LINK ¤ HUFFINGTON POST

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  • "Christian Felber is the founder of the - "Economy for the Common Good" - the economist is author of 15 books !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

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