The Washington times., 1903-04-02
MANY NATIONS ENGAGED
IN REVISION OF TARIFF
Present European Movement Contem-
plates Discrimination.

st no time in recent years have there
been so many important revisI0ns OF the
customs tariffs Of the leading CONNER
ciaI nations as at present The new i'm
Perial tariff Of Germany, although it has
not yet come into force. is undoubtedly
responsible for much of the latest iegis-
lation on the continent Of Europe. Both
Russia and Austria-F Hungary have al
ready replied with entirely new tariff
schedules, while the taFiu proposed Tor
Switzerland is also Influenced largely BY
the German example. In Japan an ez-
te1sive alteration Of existing rates OF
duty comes into effect this spring, while
In Australia period Of tariff legislation
extending over a fun year has but re-
Gently come to an end.
Even in Great Britain. where customs
duties are peculiarly supposed to be of 40
Importance. the comparatively recent re-
vision Of import rates or sugar and grain
affected very considerable number Of
industries. in the United States the
movement in favor Of reciprocity treaties
may fairly be regarded as in the diree-
ton Of limited tariff revision with re-
sPect to certain countries and products.
From the point Of view Of those who
have large commercial relations with all
countries and are DESTROYS Of maintain
ing and extending them this general al
iteration Of existing customs tariffs is a
matter Of the utmost Importance, and
one that it is worth while % follow with
great care. For the purpose Of cIassI-
ication a large number CT tariff aItera-
tions undertaken solely for fiscal Tea-
sons. or 10 correct inaccuracies Of classi-
heation. may be grouped together and
termed neutral as far az their influences
Of International trade is concerned.
/ Their effect viii be neither to lessen
! seriously the volume Of the import trade
/ OF the countries making them. nor 10
! divert the share OF that trade at present
/ enjoyed by certain countries 10 others.
/ In most Of the non manufacturing
/ countries the tariffs are naturally
neutral. treating all exporting nations
/ alike except as regards those enjoying
/ most favored nation treatment As all Of
/ the leading commercial nations secure
such favors as are granted under the last
cIa-se the manufa eturers Of all are up
{ Dll tEA l4so VI " te-tAtT WIN : H4tFVSs ~
such markets as TAR IS the tariffs are
I concerned. Under these conditions The
tariff constitutes no obstacle to foreign
/ trade.
| Carrying out the classification q step
! farther leads TO the very considerable
/ group Of countries which engage to a
/ greater or less extent in manufacturing.
and whose tariffs, although neutral in
the sense that they treat ali foreign
nations on equal terms, are protective
/ to tn domestic manufacturers. The
Australian tariff would belong 70 this
/ group.
/ The present movement in continental
Europe IS in the direction Of what may
/ be termed a discrim. mating tariff, one
+ of the primary objects Of which is &c
( discriminate against certain countries.
either in retaliation for past grievances
or for the purpose Of protecting domes-
( tic producers against what are regard
/ cd rs their most formidable eompeti-
tors. The danger with all such tariffs
i is that they invite almost certain re-
taIfation. thus leading frequently 10 dis
/ astrous tariff wars in which the con-
/ merciaI interests both of the leading
/ participants and OF many neutral
/ countries sufer.-Dun's Review