The Great Council-Trade Discussion's day

[The Smith]

A whole day was used to talk of the important trade issues of the realm.

[lordbalorgreyjoy]

Balor took this day off.
His idea of trade wasn't so much buy & sell, moreso "take & keep".

[Lilith Royce]

Ser Arguel Flowers was very interested in what his fellow merchants and dignitartaries had to say on the subject.

[swammeyjoe]

Randal wishes to know what the King plans to do about the Dornish tarrifs, as his cousin was one of the key players in that debate.

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Emelia looked to Randal. "The relevant constitutional law, I believe, is found in the Treaty of Sunspear; there is to be -free- trade between the two kingdoms. Piers Bettley has an alternative interpretation; quoth him, that is a set of empty words." Emelia grinned wolfishly and looked to the King. "Now, I believe, is the time for His Majesty to either rescind the tariff as it applies to Dorne, or admit that he swore his honor to 'empty words.'"

[The Smith]

"Why Emelia do not put such course words in my mouth. I believe I said that these empty words are given meaning by the King's vision. Leaving that out of context is embarrassing." Piers smiles at her.

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

"My Lord Bettley, do not deny your -own- words," she responded. "You said, and I quote, that 'We both know 'free trade' is just a useless platitude."' The words, "free trade" are explicitly written in the Treaty; so, as your King attached swore to uphold these words..."

Emelia smiled wickedly. "If he agrees with you, then he calls his sworn oath a useless platitude."

[The Smith]

"I am glad to see you revere my words so much that you commit them to memory, my dear Princess. I do not recall saying that. I jest often, are you sure I was not goosing you verbally at the time?" Piers grins wickedly.

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Emelia looked at Piers. "I have an excellent memory for what is said. And I agree, it may have been a joke. In which case, I challenge either of you to answer...the treaty was made, it has not been upheld. Has this been a simple mistake or is the breach of the treaty, in the matter of tariff, a policy of the Crown?"

[Percy Rivers]

OOC: The political meeting, and the meeting of the trade council is happening at different times

IC: "It was a policy of the crown, and it is a policy that I do not regret using Emelia," Callen answered, "At the time after the burning of King's Landing our economy was in shambles, trade was down, infrastructure was gone, and the rebuilding was costly. And yet, when you flood our stalls with your goods you gave us no chance to recover. Now that the economy is on its way to recovering, I believe we can reduce the tariffs, and come to a compromise if you will."

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

OOC: That's the problem with all this bleedover between issues. I'm generally rating it as a temporal distortion."

Emelia shrugged. "We needn't compromise. If you're going to keep the tariff to show your will, keep it; if you want to drop it and conciliate us, we will thank you. I challenged you over your right to tariff our ships, which Dorne still does not recognize; speaking strictly of matters of coin, the tariff is moot."

[Percy Rivers]

Callen thought for a moment, then glanced at Piers. "What I say next is no final descision, remember that, it's just a discussion. But, once the economy is recovered we could lower the tariff on Dornish wine, and drop it on Dornish silks all together. In exchange you will stop buying up cheap land in King's Landing, and reduce the act of using middlemen to bypass the tariff. and shall be offered shares within the merchants guild. If this is not incentive enough you shall be offered shares within the merchants guild."

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Emelia looked at Callen. "Given your terms..." She shrugged. "The costs of maintaining the Consortium will still be less than what we would pay you in tariff, as Maester James tells me. And most of the cheap land we've acquired is already returning to Westerosi hands, aside from a small area around the Manor and the consulate building."

She looked at Callen. "And this "merchant's guild" you're suggesting...as the Dornish consortium already controls most of the trade coming into King's Landing, we'll maintain our own trade. In short, you offer us nothing for the coins we'd pay you."

[Percy Rivers]

"They your maester tells you wrong. The tariff extends to all Dornish goods, not just the ships. And as for the merchants guild, it has been given control of all trade within the Six Kingdoms, as far as your consortium goes it owns nothing except those made in Dorne."

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Emelia nodded. "The Consortium has ducked your tariffs well enough so far, and made a damn pretty penny helping the Free Cities slip them as well. So, what you're asking is for me to simply cast aside tactics that have made Dorne rich, simply out of generous goodwill." She shook her head.

"If you're going to bribe me, bribe me with something that's of value. You offer me a share in the Merchant's Guild, that's of interest...but I'll make a counter-suggestion, that Dorne be a full partner of Westeros in matters of trade, with an equal share in the guild to Westeros. With our interests tied together in that manner, I can assure you that Dorne would find it counterproductive to continue slipping Free Cities cargos by your tariffs...we'd be competing with ourselves, after all."