New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-20
RECIPROCITY WITH FRAME
THE QUESTION OF NEGOTIATING TREATY
UNDER CONSIDERATION.

THE QUESTION OF NEGOTIATING y TREATY
UNDER CONSIDERATION.
Washington Aug. l9.-Secretary Sherman mas
acknowledged the recent overture or the FRENCH
Governments through Ambassador Patenotre'
| for negotiating a reciprocity treaty between th3
United states and France under the reciprocity
clause of the new Tariff law and the secretary
adds an assurance that he hopes to take up thls
important subject at an early day. II VIII DE
the first effort toward a practical application OF
the reciprocity clause Of the new law, ana 10
some extent. It will shape the future acton ol
the Government on the treaties 10 be negotiated.
In viow Of this. careful investigation is being
made of the status Of trade between France and
the United States as a preliminary TO negOtia-
ton
This has shown that the reciprocity clause will
not permit an offer to France Of much reduc-
ton Of duties. The data prepared in this con-
nection show imports from France for the year
IsgJ-D6 amounting to $jl,oVn.Opi. 1t is esti-
mated that the duties under the new Tariff law
on imports Of this amount would be So 10000
or * 81 per cent of the value Of the goods. IT,
however. reciprocity is granted to France, the
duties on French imports are estimated al N3L-
300 900 or - per cent of the value OF the goods
Thus the reciprocity clause would reduce French
al
Another estimate shows that the duties on
French imports are So 100000 under the Ding
Icy law. against $21.0OO.00O, as they would have
been under the Wilson law. an increase Of
S1l .4onO1 in duties on French goods.
As against this it is shown that on the inn
ports Of the United States to France amount
ing To So N0OODO the duties would BE- Sl4oo0,-
600 or - ~ per cent Of the value Of the Ameri-
can goods sent To- France From the standpoint
f the French Government there is much margin
for reciprocity between the French rate Of about
80 per cent against American goods and the
American rate OF about ~ per cent against
French goods.
The present negotiations will be a sequel to
the ARRANGEMENT effected by Ambassador White
law Reid on March Ii, 1872 France continues
to give the minimum rates established at tnat
time although the United States long since
Withdrew the reciprocal reductions on sugar,
moiasses. hides and skins When the arrange
ment was first made France granted the mini
mum rate on the following American goods
Meats fruit dried fruit woods. wood blocks Tor
pavement. slaves hops, prepared pears ana APP
pies Petroleum also secured certain adNan-
tages i'm reduced rates. but ii Is under separate
provisions These minimum rates are st n
force although the French Government mas rex
free to restore the maximum rates since the
United States ceased 70 give roclpro't! Oh
sugar molasses. hides and SKINS.
Ambassador PatenOtres proposition conten-
mates that the French minimum rates snail be
continued il the United States grants reduc-
lions under the reciprocity clause oi the new
law otherwise the French Government Is
likely to restore her maximum rates against
meats fruit dried fruit. woods. wood blocks 1or
navements slaves. hops. prepared pears ana ap-
rIne and Dossibly petroleum. The frencn au-
hor,,ie, feel that they are entitled 10 the reel
nrocitv reductions. which at most VIII not exceed
n 900 oOO as heretofore shown. because or the
lnaer percentage Of duty levied ny france OH
49, ,a,1 Gods compared with the percentage
Of duty levied by the United States on freneh
.oAG