Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-04-22
AMERICAN TRADE IN MEXICO
Manufacturers Will Have to Make
Concessions to Compete with
Europeans.

If American manufacturers are de-
sirous of obtaining trade in Mexico they
should send statesmen capable of speak
devote themselves to a study of the meth
DDS employed by native merchants.
AS a rule, houses here deal with COM
mission houses in New York or other
cities in the United States, to which they
consign their shipments of hides, deer
skins, vanilla, honey, wax, cedar, ma
hogany, chile, allspice. sarsaparilla, etc.
Against these they draw for so to rs per
cent. of the value of their bills of lading,
according to the nature of the merchan-
disc or the arrangements which may
have been entered into between the ship
per and commission house. Buyers in
good standing and credit place their or
ders wholly through the commission
houses to which they ship their prod
acts, usually obtaining 60 or 80 days.
credit; rarely six months. In the past
this has been n of the serious obsta-
Giles to business encountered by such
American manufacturers and firms as
objected to the long credits usually
granted by European houses. To a GER
tain extent the trade in certain lines of
goods here has been monopolized by
European houses simply because of their
willingness to give long credits.
American manufacturers will have
to make concessions or sell similar
articles at prices low enough to meet
European competition. Recently.
American firms, finding that they could
open up branches in this republic, have
engaged in different lines Of trade and
have thereby avoided high duties and
other expenses. This has enabled them
to effectually checkmate European COM
petition. One among the various rea-
sons why Americans do not obtain a bet
ter footing in this country is that they
are Indifferent about conforming to the
native ideas of packing. They frequent
ly object to putting up goodsin packages
and boxes of the sizes, weight and thick
ness required. If they did it would en-
able the merchant here to pay the mini
mum duty, which, according to the Mex
lean tariff and nature of the article, is
assessed by weight, including the inner
and outer packages In which they are
inclosed. 1t is therefore evident that
boxes and all packages should be made
as light as may be consistent with the
safe carriage of the articles.
Manufacturers should be willing to
comply with any reasonable request
buyers may make in regard to the pack
ing and other details Of goods ordered,
as in this manner they can avoid pay
ment of excessive duty charges, and, fail
ing to crafty this requirement, they
simply jeopardize their own interests
and permit European manufacturers to
step in and %monopolize Mexican trade.
Manufacturers and dealers in agri-
cultural implements would serve their
own interests best if they would con-
form to the requirements of farmers in
this country. 1t may be impossible for
them to cater to each individual taste or
desire; still, it must be borne in mind
that it is a poor argument for them to Of
fer their wares on the "take-or-leave"
plan.
Mexicans are, as a rule, extremely SEN
sitive, and. while usually DESTROYS of
adopting modern ideas and implements,
they are, like all the rest of mankind,
loath to admit their ignorance, although
glad to learn if a little patience and re-
gard for their feelings are displayed by
those who desire to do business with
them. There is an immense field for all
modern agricultural appliances in Mex
leo, if properly introduced by compe-
tent and painstaking persons who speak
the language, and who are willing to pa
tiently and persistently try to overcome
prejudices which have existed for cen
tcries. Such persons will in time be
more than amply repaid for their trou-
bic by securing an immense demand for
their products.
A. j. LESPINASSE.