The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-26
AMERICAS TRADE ABROAD.
Legislation and Combination Fail To
Anect United states Exports

AteCT U1fEu StUttS ksA poEA~-
FREQUENT announcements have been
made during the past few years Of com
binations or legislation against the United
States with reference to our export trade,
but these do not seem to have affected
American commercial interests abroad
few years ago American meats were
the subject OF legislation in several Of the
European countries with the apparent
purpose of discriminating either against
certain classes Of our products OF Of aid
ing certain classes of producers in the
countries in which the legislation was
had. little later came similar action
with reference to American fruits Still
later further legislation with reference
to various grades of meat was had and
this was followed by increase Of duties in
certain European countries against the
classes of breadstuffS of which the United
States is a large producer and exporter
The products of the American dairy
have also been the subject of more or less
attention from Europeans, who had look
ed askance at oleomargaTine butter and
filed cheese. The sugar legislation and
laws of the United States have furnished
q basis for certain restrictive regulations
with reference to certain products of
American manufactures and the war
with Spain was looked upon by many as
likely to practically destroy the com
merce between that country and the Unit
ed States.
The result Of ali this commercial fric-
ton and hostility. and of these national
and international combinations against
American commerce, has been a steady
increase of American exports to the coun-
tries in question and in many cases a de
crease of American imports from those
countries
The figures of the Treasury Bureau Of
Statistics show that exports from the
United States to Germany have increased
from $50, 00e 900 in 1898 to S1S7 100000 in 1900
while the figures for the eight months
ending with February 1901, show exports
to Germany valued at S13i. 600, 800 against
$124, 900 600 in the corresponding months of
last year and $111.0O000 600 in the same
months of the fiscal year 1893 Meantime
imports into the Uaited States from Ger
many have fallen from $111. 100000 in 1897
to S97,OO0,090 in 1862 though for the fiscal
year 1901 they will probably be slightly in
excess of 1900
In France certain American produc-
tons, especially those of agricultural
origin, have been the subject Of more or
less restrictive legislation OF regulation:
yet American exports to France which in
1888 were SIS 100000. were in 1909 $50, Oo0 00o
and in th@ eight months ending with Feb
ruary, 1901, are $50, 900 coo against $43 0000 600
! in the corresponding months of 1899
I Meantime American imports from France
/ have not materially changed, the imports
( Of 1893 having been SIC, 100000 and those of
! 1860 So, 90d 900. while for the eight months
/ ending with February, 1901, they show an
/ increase of q little less than 81 000,O 0G over
! the corresponding months of last year
/ To Spain the export trade of the United
| States, instead of being destroyed or
materially reduced, has increased and the
/ exports during the present fiscal year
! seem likely to be greater than in any
other year. with possibly a single excep-
/ ton, in American history. having been
/ tor the eight months ending with Feb
ruaTy. 1891, $0345,ESQ, against S. 555.2u in
/ the corresponding months of 1890. and
/ SOD ,f35 in the same months Of the fiscal
I year 1885 Even in the fiscal year 1909 the
/ total exports to Spain from the United
States were larger than in any earlier
year since 1881
Even in the case of Russia, whose re-
cent action with reference to certain
( American products has been already an
nounced, the effect is. up to this time
( scarcely apparent American exports to
/ Russia during March of the present year.
the first fun month following the an
{ EOUGCement Of the discriminating rates
/ against the United States were 8. I19 6Sg
/ as against 81 ,246,621 during March Of last
/ year.