Free Trade Deed
A Free Trade Deed is a document issued by one to the Free Cities that will allow a particular trader to travel and operate within their boundaries. Each trader is required to produce the relevant trade deed if requested by an official or a banking order to authorise the relevant checks. Trade companies or larger merchants will carry either a folio containing the details of all their trade deeds or banking orders authorising the relevant officials to carry out checks. Only the smaller traders will carry the actual deeds with them. This is considered quite risky since the deeds could be stolen and used inappropriately. Smugglers have been known to steal deeds then use them to appear to move their merchandise legally. Few of the smaller traders would be recognised in cities that are not their own which makes life easier for those smugglers.
The deeds do not vary much between cities. They will usually allow a named trader to import and export their goods within the limits of a Free City's territories. The type of goods is usually specified by the deed and trading in a different class of goods would require a second deed. One exception to this is Stormminster, who has taken a more blanket approach to their Free Trade Deeds.
This document was created as part of the negotiation that led to the Rebirth of Freedom. Each Free City issued deeds that were only valid within their own territories. As the practice and trade alliances grew, some of the cities started to allow traders to apply for deeds that covered more than than just their own territories. For their part, traders also called for a simpler system to do away with the need to carry a folio full of deeds. Around that same time, several enterprising traders decided to set up banking institutions to facilitate the transfer of funds between cities and avoid traders going bankrupt after being targeted by highwaymen once or twice too often. The Seven Sun Banking Institute is born around this time, capitalising on their trading contacts. They start to offer a rather good vetting service to traders, allowing them to direct officials need to check deeds to them.
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