The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-20
Our Trade in Coffee.

United States from Brazil, anu IRON al
countries, during the last twenty-one years
the re-exports in that period the rate OF
duty imposed, the amount OF revenue
realized therefrom and the average price OF
coffee in New York during each year.
This table will be found both interesting
and instructive, and will throw much light
upon the proper course to be pursued with
regard to this important article in any adj
justment of a new tariff.
During the twenty years ended June ~
1876, the United States imported over
1900, 900 tons Of coffee. OF this amount
less than 100, 900 tons was re-exported and
more than 2, 100, 900 tons Yves consumed by
the people OF the United States The
average consumption Of coffee in the
United States during the above period
amounted to 300 0OO,0 900 pounds per an
nun. For the last ten years OF that period
the average consumption increased to over
270, 600, 900 pounds per annum and for the
last five years the average still further in
creased to more than 800, 900 pounds
per annum. The fiscal year ended June
80, 1877, the consumption was over
800, 000 600 pounds.
Three-fourths of all the coffee imported
into the United States during the past
twenty-one years has come from Brazil.
During the last six years there has been
slight falling off in the relative quantity
coming from that country, and an increased
proportion of about five per cent has been
received from other sources Of supply.
Our imports of coffee from Brazil during
the five years ended June 80, 1876, aver
aged in value $50, 55s, 260 per annum, and
for the last fiscal year the value was
$50, Or, 525.
At the same time the total exports from
the United States to Brazil averaged for the
five years above stated but 81, 1885, S1 per
annum, and for the last fiscal year but
1851, 1913.
We have thus been paying to Brazil over
100000 per annum in gold during the
five years referred to, and the last fiscal
year over S2S, 600, 600 for the one item Of
coffee.
Upon all products exported from Brazil
there is imposed by the government of that
country an imperial export duty of nine per
cent and provincial export tax of four per
cent making together an export duty Of
thirteen per cent upon all products leaving
the Empire.
There has therefore been paid upon the
coffee taken from that country by the United
States an export duty which has amounted
during the last six years to an average of
over 81, 100000 per annum. This sum has
been paid by the consumers Of coffee in the
in addition to the cost of production and
other charges in that country. Upon tho
total imports Of all products into the United
States from Brazil during the same period
this export duty has amounted to a tax
upon consumers in the United States which,
for the last six years, has averaged over
So, $50, 900 per annum.
The United States, prior to the act Of
August 5. 1861, admitted coffee free of duty.
by that act a duty of four cents per pound
was imposed, which was increased to five
cents by the act of December "a, 1861. Tho
duty remained at five cents until january
l, 1871, when it was reduced to three cents,
\
again admitted free of duty from July l,
1872
During the eleven years in which duty
was imposed on coffee the average annual
revenue realized therefrom was 81, CSC, 301.
A duty of three cents per pound upon the
average annual imports Of coffee during the
last six years, which, after deducting the
quantity re-exported, has amounted to over
three hundred million pounds per annum,
would have yielded q revenue of over
$4,000, 600 per annum. In England the
duty levied upon coffee is three and half
cents per pound.
That tho removal Of the duty on coffee
which was imposed by the tariff acts above
quoted has been of no benefit to consumers
in the United States, but has accrued solely
to tho advantage of foreign governments,
factors and producers. will appear from an
examination of tho average price of Brazil
coffee in New York during each of the last
twenty years as given in the table we prb-
lish to-day. The figures have been taken
from the annual reports of tho Chamber of
Commerce of New York. The average price
of Brazil coffee in this market for twenty
years is shown to have been seventeen and
q half cents per pound in gold.
The average price for the four years i'm
mediately following the removal of the duty
was nineteen and a half cents, or an advance
Of two cents per pound over the average for
twenty years. The average price during
the four years preceding the removal of tho
per pound, or nearly three cents a pound
less than the average price since the re-
moval of the duty. Ittherciorc appears that
the suppression OF tho duty on coffee has not
been followed by any reduction of price to
the consumers in the United States, but
that, on the contrary, the price has in.
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