National Republican., 1884-05-15
Exo1UDED AMERICAN pRoDUors,


Report OF the Senate Committee on For-
elgn Relations Ola the Foreign Tariffs.
A unanimous report from tho senate COM
mitteo on foreign relations was laid before
the senate yesterday upon the second branch
Of the Anthony resolution of Jan. IL relating
to tho importation Of meats from the United
States to foreign countries, and to discrimi-
nations made against exports from the United
States by the tariff laws Of the principal
countries of Europe and America. The com.
mitteo say 1t may be stated generally that
none Of tho tariffs of European or American
countries contain specific Determinations
against merchandise imported from the
United States, but the determinations found
in the tariff system Of some of tho countries,
particularly France and Austria Hungary,
against merchandise imported from nom
treaty countries necessarily result in placing
importations from tho United States at
serious disadvantages
For example, on account Of the great diff
ference between tho rates of duty imposed
upon American goods by the general tariff,
and rates imposed upon like goods imported
from treaty countries under the conventional
tariff, much of our merchandise cannot reach
the French markets, except through those
countries having commercial treaties with
France, such as Great Britain and Italy. As
directly into France from the United States,
pays a duty Of 30 francs per hectolitrc while
IL imported into France from England 10 Is
subject to is francs per hectoltro Cotton
tissues imported from the United States into
France paws nearly three times the duty which
the samo article pays II imported from Great
Britain, and so of other articles.
Respecting the prohibition against the i'm
portation of salted meats into Germany and
France, the committee say the discrimina-
tion IS not tariff law, but an absolute pro-
hibition Of o specific American product as an
American product, and tho prohibition is
declared to be based upon n sanitary regula-
tion and enforced for sanitary reasons. The
same may bo said in respect of the discrimi-
nation practiced in Great Britain against
American cattle. If these Determinations
are causeless and founded upon u misconcep.
tion of facts, or arise from groundless fears of
danger to public health, the United States
has reason for complaint and after using
every means TO remove tho reason (if there
bo any reason) for tho prohibition, they may,
with perfect propriety, resort to discrmina-
tion as against tho importations from tho
countri os which practice these causeess and
unjust prohibitions against American pro-
ducts
With respect to the relations with Brazil the
committee alludes to the export duty on
coffee, and finds that it is undoubtedly levied
for revenue, and cannot be regarded strictly
as discrimination, although the practical
effect may be 10 seriously discriminate to tho
injury Of those countries which furnish the
principal market for tho product so taxed.
Whether in such case it is bettor for the
country injuriously affected to resort to dis
crimination as against the imports of the
offending country or to strive by negotiation
to obtain reciprocity is a question which
must depend for answer upon the COM
mercial and other conditions which
surround or exist in tho two nations.
1t is clearly mistake for the United States,
under ordinary conditions, oplace any given
imports of considerable consequence upon the
FREQ list without Il careful consideration of
the conditions under which such products
leave the country of production, and the
commercial relations which exists between
such country and the United States, or with
out at least suggesting that reciprocal ad-
vantage be given to products of tho United
States which may find market in such
country.
The committee does not find it necessary
to suggest any further legislation than it has
| already proposed.