Europan Commercial Alliance
 Emblem of the ECA | |
| Abbreviation | ECA |
|---|---|
| Motto | Bringing nations closer together |
| Predecessor | Free Europan Trade Association |
| Successor | Entente of Oriental States |
| Formation | 14 October 1954 |
| Founded at | Zuidhaven, Orioni |
| Type | International organisation |
| Purpose | Economic Cooperation |
| Website | www.eca.int (defunct) |
The Europan Commercial Alliance or ECA was a major international organisation of Europan countries created to improve international trade and regulate industrial production. It was formally established on 14 October 1954 by the Treaty of Zuidhaven. The ECA was one of the first international organisations on Eurth to be based on the principles of supranationalism. It started the process of integration which led to the Entente of Oriental States.
History
In an effort to bring the Europan nations closer together, the government of Orioni sought to create a commercial alliance with other Europan nations. The alliance was to carry the name European Commercial Alliance (ECA). The ECA was formally established on 14 October 1954 by the Treaty of Zuidhaven. It was open to nations who volunteered to be a member of this ECA. The main focus was commerce: the free movement of goods between the ECA countries. This meant that all members agreed to an equalisation of tax, tariffs, and trade. In economics, the theory of comparative advantage explains why it can be beneficial for two countries to trade, even though one of them may be able to produce every kind of item more cheaply than the other. What matters is not the absolute cost of production, but rather the ratio between how easily the two countries can produce different kinds of things. The ECA was first and foremost a commercial alliance. It was not a political instrument. It was not the objective of this alliance to influence or determine a country's government policy.
Objectives
At its creation, the ECA aimed to benefit all nations who wished to join. The four core objectives, as stated in the official document, were:
- The basic principle of the ECA is peaceful cooperation. By working together, we will get to know each other and see one another as equals, not enemies.
- The ECA will be a commercial alliance, but will NOT be a political instrument. It is not the objective of this alliance to influence or determine a country's government policy.
- Every member of the ECA shall agree to an equalisation of tax, tariffs, and trade.
- Every member of ECA sets up a port that will be that nation's port of entrance for all goods that are traded in the ECA.
Membership
All nations who agreed to this were considered to be founding members. Countries who joined afterwards had to agree to the same objectives, and had to be supported by an existing ECA-member.
Founding members:
Members who joined at a later date:
