Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-19
Propositions For Reciprocity With
That Country.
GREAT INCREASE IN TIE DUTIES
Not Much of Reduction Per-
mitted by the Law
M. PATENOTRE's OFFER

Secretary Sherman has acknowledged the
recent overture of the French government,
through Ambassador Patenotre, for ne
gotiating reciprocity treaty between the
United States and France under the reel
procfty clause Of tie new tariff law, and
the Secretary adds an assurance that he
hopes to take up this important subject at
an early day. 1t will be the first effort
toward practical application of the recf-
procity clause Of the new law. and to some
extent 1t will shape the future action of
the government on the treaties to be nego-
tiated. In view Of this, careful investiga-
ton Is being made Of the status Of trade
between France and the United States, as
a preliminary to negotiation.
This has developed that the reciprocity
clause will not permit an offer to France of
much reduction of duties. The data pre-
pared in the connection shows that imports
from France for the year 1866 amounted
to $6I,OOO.O0O 1t Is estimated that the
duties under the new tariff law on i'm
ports of this amount, would be $50. 400, 600,
or 1885 per cent Of the value of the goods.
If. however, the reciprocity clause is grant
ed to France the duties on French i'm
ports are estimated at $31, SOC, 600, or Al per
cent of the value of the goods. Thus the
reciprocity clause would reduce the French
duties less than 100000 on a years i'm
ports.
Another estimate shows that the duties
on French imports are $32, 400, 600 under the
Dingiey law; as against s21.O00,OO0 under
the Wilson law, an increase of S1l, 100000
In duties on French goods
AS against this it shows that on the ex-
ports of the United States to France,
amounting to $62, $4,000, the duties would
be $14,OO00OO, or 22.2S per cent of the value
Of the American goods sent to France.
From the standpoint of the French govern
ment, there is much margin for reciprocity
between the French rate Of about - per
cent against American goods and the
American rate of about 4S per cent against
French goods.
The present negotiations will be sequel
to the arrangement effected by Ambassa-
dor Whitelaw Reid, March Is, 1892 France
continues to give the minimum rates es-
tablshed at that time. although the United
States long since withdrew the reciprocal
reductions on sugar. molasses, hides and
skins. When the arrangement was first
made France granted the minimum rate on
the following American goods:
Meats, fruit, dried fruit, woods. wood
blocks for pavement, slaves, hops, pre-
pared pears and apples.
Petroleum also secured certain advant-
ages In reduced rates. but 1t is under sep
arate provisions. These minimum rates are
still in force. although the French govern
ment has felt free to restore the maximum
give reciprocity On sugar, molasses, hides
and skins.
Ambassador Patenotre's proposition con-
templates that the French minimum rates
shall be continued If the United States
grants reductions under the reciprocity
clause of the new law. Otherwise the
French government is likely to restore her
maximum rates against meats. fruit, dried
fruit, woods, wood blocks for pavement,
slaves, hops, prepared pears and apples,
and possibly petroleum.
The French authorities feel that they
are entitled to the reciprocity reductions,
which. at most will not exceed 81 600 900
as heretofore shown, because of the lower
percentage of duty levied by France on
American goods. compared with the per-
ceptage of duty levied by the United States
on French goods, ara. 49,,