Section 5

Global Fair Play

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As these development goals begin to succeed, our entire world, for the first time, has the opportunity to become prosperous. My fellow Americans, the United States of America needs global prosperity. We need the 2 billion new customers for American business that it will create. 

Real global prosperity needs rules and standards that are stable and consistent. I believe that good business will support a worldwide system of converging global standards that correct the excesses of the past. 

Therefore, tonight our nation proposes that all nations work to bring together the existing framework of global rules into a new system I will call Global Fair Play Laws.

Strong Treaties Work

As the first step in implementing Global Fair Play Laws, I will push forward and seek ratification of the international treaties that form the backbone of responsible international behavior. In addition to the treaties I have already discussed:

For the oceans, I will sign the pending Law of the Sea Treaty
To protect our critically important satellites, I will sign the Treaty on the De-Weaponization of Outer Space
To protect civil rights everywhere, I will sign a Treaty on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
To protect our ecosystems, I will sign the Biodiversity Treaty
To protect the fundamental right of all people to fresh water, I will support the United Nations Convention on the Right to Water

… and perhaps most important of all, to Americans who love justice as I love justice,

The United States of America, with the rest of the world already on board, will join the International Criminal Court, so that no criminal can escape justice, anywhere on the planet.

Global Trade Must be Fair, Sustainable and Just

As the second step in implementing Global Fair Play Laws, the United States of America must make global trade fair, sustainable and just. To accomplish this, our nation tonight proposes a restructuring of the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund so that they are transparent, democratic and accountable. 

The World Trade Organization, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund must converge toward effective, transparent policies that help eliminate poverty, protect the environment, protect fair labor practices, protect fundamental human rights, and protect investors. Therefore, we will move to establish voting rights in these organizations that fairly recognize both financial contribution and population.

At my direction, the Vice President has already moved to begin and lead this process on behalf of our country.