An extremely silly question, buut...

[dmm]

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
Actually, there's no need for a special 'trade federation' at all..

See my Last post.

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
I can see certain players deliberately building huge amounts of storage space and using their ability to store resources for diplomatic advantage just like you would use any other ability in the game.

I don't see that happening in a regular game. I've never found resource storage to be a key factor in my games. And the storage player will become "ripe for the picking" as he amasses filled storage tanks at the cost of the 4 Xs, unless there is some other factor protecting him. Lots of countries try to be neutral but the only ones who succeed are protected by some formidable natural barrier, like high mountains or wide oceans. Just ask the Dutch.