Evening star., 1902-08-18
TREATY WITH CHINA.
United States Enters Into Commercial
COMPACT

a report to the State Department yester-
day from t. S. Sharretts, a treasury expert
who is In China under commission of the
State Department TO negotiate a CONNER
cial treaty between the Pekin government
and the United States, gives Information
that the treaty was signed August Is.
The announcement contained in Mr.. Shar-
retts' brief dispatch brings to a success
full conclusion negotiations which have
been in progress for many months for a
tariff treaty between China and this couu-
try. 1t was stipulated as one of the fea-
lures of the peace agreement between China
and the foreign powers at the close of the
Boxer outbreak that an entirely new fabric
of trade treaties should be made. This car
rled out the purpose Secretary Hay had
maintained throughout the preceding ne
gotiatiOnS for open door" the desire
being to open up foreign communications
with the interior of China and thus gain
access to the vast markets of the empire
Following the conclusion of the peace ar
rdngementS Mr.. SharrettS was selected to
carry on the tariff negotiations in behalf
of the United States. This selection was
due to his long familiarity with tariff af-
fairs, as ne had assisted in the framing of
recent tariff legislation before Congress-
and had also served one of the general
appraisers at New York. He went to China
about year ago, and has since been en-
gagged in working out the details of a tariff
dSiStlNeHt II was announced about
month ago that the British commissioners
had concluded tariff treaty with China
and II was understood at that time the
British treaty would serve as a basis for
similar treaties with the United States and
other foreign countries. The State Depart
ment was advised at the time that the
rates on imports entering China were 12D
per cent and the export duties ~ per cent
one OF the most important provisions of the
British-China treaty was that abolishing
III pe6 hat Gin
lar rates are made in the American treaty
and that the Likin tax is abolished as far
as 1t relates to American goods In transit
The 1ikin tax has been one of the most
ourdensome exact!ons of the antiquated
Chinese systems, as it was levied by tie
ohclals at various points through the in
terror. with uniformity, and often with less
regard Tor commercial ends than fer the
enrichment OF the unScrupulouS local Off
cials. The abolition of the Iikin tax will
go far toward encourag ging foreign trade
and traffic in the interior of China
Mr.. Sharretts' dispatch is dated at Shang-
hai, and does not go into details regarding
the treaty he has signed.
Change to Specific Rates.
The new tariff which was signed by Mr..
=. B. Sharretts, the United States commits
sioner for tariff revision in China, and by
the representatives of six other nations,
changes the present ad valorem tariff of
China to specific rates. This is In accord
ance with the protocol, and the specific rate
agreed upon Is basd on the average value
OF products imported into China during the
past twenty years. Under the terms of the
protocol this change from ad valorem to
specific rates does not need the signature
of China. The change will no doubt make
some difference in the rates of duty but is
not regarded a revision of the tariff to
any general extent.
1t is expected that in a commercial treaty
the tariff will be changed to a considerable
extent. The commissioners on the part of
the United States to negotiate this treaty
are Minister Conger, Consul General Good
now at Shanghai and Mr. Feely. The
treaty which they negotiate, it is expected.
Will be completed within short time.