Pre-Simulation Assignment: GTS Group Memo
1. Choose and identify your head of state, finance minister and the focus of the remaining members of your team. For example, who will be the assistant finance minister in charge of food and live animals? How you choose to divide the duties of the assistant finance ministers will depend on the import goals and anticipated exports for your country. Each team member must be assigned a role.
2. Calculate the anticipated exports for your country and complete the first column of Table 1 provided in your Global Trading Simulation manual. Identify the source(s) of your information and show or explain the calculations used to estimate your exports.
3. Identify the free trade agreements (FTAs) your country belongs to and the countries they have trade agreements with.
4. Identify and discuss the natural trading partners that will be participating in the simulation. What makes these countries natural trading partners for your country? Consider cultural, political, and economic implications. Identify the source(s) of your information.
5. Identify and discuss any countries that will be participating in the simulation with which you will not trade. Even if there are no countries in the GTS with which your country does not currently have a conflict, you must identify at least one country participating in the GTS that you do not plan to trade with. This could be a country with which there has been past conflict, a country that does not have any items that satisfy your import needs, or a country that does not need and of the items your country has available to export. Whatever the reason, you must explain why you do not plan to trade with this country (or these countries). Identify the source(s) of your information.
6. Given your answers to questions 2 through 5, develop a trading strategy for accomplishing your import goals and improving your country's position. Be specific about what steps you will take to meet your goals as well as contingency plan(s).
Categories are: Crude Materials (except fuel) & Mineral Fuels, Lubricants.