New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-08-11
TRADE POSSIBILITIES
GREAT BRITAIN THE LARGEST BUYER
OF AMERICAN FARM PRODUCTS.
NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF ITS SUPPLY COMES
FROM THE UNITED STATES-SALES
MIGHT BE INCREASED.


Washington. Aug. 1O--A report on the sgri-
cultural imports of Great Britain for the years
1896 to 1900. inclusive. with a significant re-
view Of the trade conditions and possibilities
between the United States and the United King
dom. has been compiled by Frank H. Hitchcock.
chief of the division Of foreign markets in the
Department Of Agriculture. The United King
dom is the principal market for the surplus agri-
cultural produce of exporting countries. The re-
port says that the products of agriculture sent
to that market from all sources in 1900 reached
the enormous value of S157S, 600. forming 62
per cent of the entire import trade OF Great
Britain and Ireland. In the fve years men
toned the annual average value of the imports
into the United Kingdom was S23OS1I4.441, of
which 81, ass, 921, 776 or 6S per cent, were agri-
cultural, and $S49 252 $685. or 81 per cent, non
agricultural
To this extraordinary import trade in agri-
cultural produce the United States was the prin-
cpaI contributor. furnishing about 33 per cent
or nearly one-thrd, of the supply. About As per
cent came from foreign countries other than the
United States The possessions and depend
encies of the United Kingdom throughout the
world together contributed about "a per cent.
Continuing, the report says;
The value of the agricultural produce received
from the United States amounted TO SolS'Ooo,-
600, leaving over 81 900 100000 worth of such
produce to be supplied from other sources,
While the United States already possesses
market of exceeding importance in the United
Kingdom, selling TO that country more than
half of the surplus production OF American
farms, the possibilities of further trade extern
sion there in competing with other export coun-
tries are we'll worth consideration
Among the agricultural imports into British
markets during 1900 there were comparatively
few products in which the United States con-
trolled the larger portion OF trade. Taking such
items as had a value exceeding $4,000. 900. of
which there were thirty-four in the year under
consideration only nine of them came more ex-
tensively from the United States than from the
various other sources. These nine items, with
the percentage Of the total supply received IN
each case from the United States, were as fol-
lows; Lard, 90 per cent; hams. 50 per cent; to-
baccO, 81 per cent; wheat flour, S3 per cent;
fresh beef, "a per cent; raw cotton, "A per cent
cattle ~ per cent; Indian corn. 80 per cent
bacon, 81 per cent.
While other countries are the chief contrib
utors of uxuries, the United States is the source
from which the British people procure large
measure OF those staple food products that are
absolutely necessary TO the maintenance Of III
This causes the peculiar dependence of the
United Kingdom on American sources OF supply
During 1900 less than ? per cent Of the butter
imported was furnished by the United states
For the imports received from other sources the
United Kingdom paid over SS3,OOO.OOO. The
eggs imported cost over $26000,0O0. Only about
exporters About $4,000, 600 was spent by the
British people for imported wines. less than
per cent of which came from the United States
About S12.0000O0 worth OF oleomargarine was
imported. OF which the United States supplied
less than ] per cent. Nearly Sl1,OOo,OOU was
spent for imported potatoes Practically the
entire trade went 10 other countries than the
United States. The United Kingdom spent over
$4,000 900 in the importing OF oranges. Less
than l per cent OF the shipments received came
from the United States.
Numerous other agricultural products suggest
possibilities in the way OF a larger sale in the
British market.
Mr.. Hitchcock predicts that the greatest fu-
ture development OF American trade in the Brit
ish market may be expected in perishable prod
ucts. expectation Of which is made possible by
modern transportation methods. France is the
chief competitor OF this country In supplying
farm produce to the United Kingdom, the agri-
cultural imports from France asgTegating S1OS,-
coo. 900 in value in 1900