Commonwealth Free Trade Society
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Commonwealth Free Trade Society | |
|---|---|
| Organization Profile | |
| Type | Political Group |
| Founded | 3013 |
| Headquarters | Donegal |
Commonwealth Free Trade Society was a single issue focused political pressure group, within the Lyran Commonwealth, as of 3025.[1]
Overview[edit]
Free Traders[edit]
The CFTS was founded in 3013 on Donegal by Lyran merchants and corporate leaders with interests in the Commonwealth's border regions, in order to campaign for looser trade restrictions and lower trade taxes with foreign realms. Its methods to advance these aims included funding candidates to political office who were sympathetic to their cause.[1][2]
Protectionists[edit]
Following the formation of the Federated Commonwealth however, and the flood of lower priced goods which came into Lyran worlds from the Federated Suns and its new Sarna March, the group underwent a fundamental change in political orientation. By 3049, while retaining the CFTS name, the group has transformed into one which sought higher tariffs for both external and internal trade partners of the Federated Commonwealth. Still active as of 3067, the CFTS' leaders justified their variance with the groups founding ideals by claiming its purpose had always primarily been the prosperity of the Lyran state, no matter what policies might be needed to achieve that end.[1][2]