The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-08-20
SHE WANTS RECIPROCITY
France Mskss Overtures For a
Reduction of Duties.
INVESTIGATING THE CASE
Under the Dingley Act France Gets the
Worst OF lt, but She Can Retail
ate ON Meats. Fruits.
Woods and Hops.

Washington, Aug. ~ secretary
sherman has acknowledged the receipt
of oVcrtures OF the French government,
through Ambassador Patcnoire. for
negotiating reciprocity clause OF the
new taIiff law. ana the secretary adds
an assurance thai he hopes to take up
the imI Jrtant tubject at an early day.
II VIII be the FIRST efforts towards the
practical application of the reciprocity
clause Of the new law. and Ia some ex-
tent il will share the future action of
the government on the treaties la be
negotiated. In view ~ this. careful in
vest liza tion Is being made of the status
of trade between France aud the Unit
"a States as "A preliminary negotiation.
This has developed that the reciprocity
ciausr Will not permit an oner To
France of much reduction cf duties.
The data prepared In this connection
show the imports from France for the
years 1856 amounted 10 So, ,oe0. 900. II
is estimated that the duties under the
new tariff Law on imports of this
amount would he 81. .ooo. or ass per
cent of the value of the goods. II.
however. the reciprocity clause is
granted Ia Frame. the duties on
French Imports Is estimated az sSl.soo.-
600 or i7 per cent. Of the value of the
goods. Thus the reciprocity clause
would reduce the French duties less
than 81 .ooo. 600 on years imports An
other estimate shows that the duties ON
French imports are sss. 400 ooo under the
Dingley law as against 81 .o1. 30" that
they would have been under the Wilson
law an Increase of s1l .400.oOn In duties
on French goods.
As against this II is shown that on
the exports NJ the United States To
France. amounting To So. .soooco. the
duties would he sii iooo. .0oo. az 22.2s per
cent of the valu" Of the American
goods scnt To France. From the stand
point of the French government there
Is much margin foi reciprocity between
the French rate Of about - per cent.
against American goods and the Amer
lean rate Of about ~ per cent. against
French goods. The present negotiations
will be "A sequel Ia the arrangement
effected by Ambassador Wihtclaw Reid.
March lj. 1892 France continues Ia
give the minimum rates estimated at
that time, although the United States
long since withdrew the reciprocal re-
duciions on sugar. m"lasses. hides and
skins.
when the arrangement WAS ilist
made. France granted the minimum
rate on the following American goods:
I Meats. dried fruit, woods, wood blocks
! for pavement. sisyes. hops. prepared
pears and apples. Petroleum also Sc
cured certain advantages In reduced
rates. but II is under separate pro,i-
sions. These minimum rates are still
In force. although the French govern
ment has felt free Ia restore the maxi
| mum rates since the United States
ceased to give reciprocity on sugar.
molasses. hides and skins. Ambassador
! Patenotre's proposition contemplates
that the French minimum rates shall
be continued IL the United States
| grants reductions under the reciprocity
clause ot the new law. Otherwise the
French government is likely To restore
! her maximum rates against meats,
fruit. dried fruit. woods wood blocks
/ for psvem,nts. stayes. hops. prepared
pears and apples, and possibly petro-
lcum.
The French authorities feel that they
are entitled To the reciprocity's reduc-
| lions. which al most viii not exceed
! s.. 900. 600 as heretofore shown. because
Of the lower percentage of duty levied
by France ON American goods. com
pared with the percentage of duty lev
! led by the Emitted States on French
! goods.