New-York tribune., 1905-08-18
GERMANY'S DUAL TARIFF.
HITS AMERICAN TRADE.
OnIv SeUen Most FdUored Nations
after March I.
[rRoM rHE rKrpuNE nuREAr.l

trade by a comprehensive statement. with fig
u-es Of imports revised TO date. which was is
sued to-day by the Bureau Of Statistics of the
nepartment OF Commerce and Labor and ap-
rsrently calculated TO furnish facts TO the pub
n Just at the moment when reciprocity is
der discussion at Chicago The new German
tsrif law viii go into effect on March l. 1906
and will remain in force at least until the close
Of the year 1917. Under its provisions the Ger
nan Rechstag ratified on February % Of the
cu-rent year new commercial conventions with
Austria Hungary, Belgium, Italy. Russia, Ru-
mania. Servia and Switzerland, granting TO
those countries the lowest schedules OF duties
The new tariff consists OF a double set of
duties: the general rates which received the
sanction OF law on December % 1902 although
they have not been put into force as yeD, and
the conventional" those arrived at by means
Of bargaining with foreign countries and en-
bodied in treaties or conventions" mentioned
above. Not all the rates OF the general tariff
are reduced in the conventional; the reductions
which occur are made in consideration Of equiv
sIsrt concessions by other countries. The COM
hined lowest conventional rates agreed on with
The different parties TO the treaties are made
snplicable alike to all the countries enjoying
the benefit Of the most favored nation treat
rnent. BY that is meant in Europe that the
nation enjoying such privileges cannot be sub
3ected 10 higher import duties on its products
than those levied on similar products coming
from other countries
MOST FAVORED NATIONS.
No treaty exists between the United States
md the German Empire which contains
.-nost favored nation" clause in the sense
.ho,,e given. Reference has been frequently
made IN recent discussions Of the new German
tariff 10 the treaty signed at Washington In
1905 BY. Henry Clay and the Prussian Minister
which is still in force ana so recognized by
both Germany and the United States. Article
TX Of this treaty is as follows:
Il either party shall hereafter grant to any
other nation any particular favor in naviga-
rion or commerce, il shall Immediately become
common 10 the other party. freely. where IT
IS freely granted such other nation, or on
welding the same compensation, when the
grant is conditional.
This is as strong as any most favored
nation clause enjoyed by this country in treat
ies with any other country, but it gives the
United States no ground for claiming the
r-fvileEe Of the new German conventional tariff
rates without yielding the same compensa-
ton" on which Germany's grant is con-
ditional" TO her neighbors with whom she has
negotiated new commercial conventions
Under the present German tariff. imports
from the United States have been subject TO
first under the so-caIled Saratoga Convention
Of 1892. and later by virtue of the commercial
agreement between the United States and Ger
,1anv OF July 10 1900. BY the terms of the
latter agreement this country received a grant
Of the conventional rates OF duties fixed by
the commercial treaties Of 1S91-1S94 between
Germany and the seven countries mentioned
above in consideration of the reduction of
duties authorized by Section Of the Dingley
act Of 1897 on argols brandies. wines paint
inFs and statuary imported from Germany into
the United States. This agreement may be
terminated by either country at any time
giving three months notice; and as the treaties
Of lS81-I894 with the above named countries
which govern the tariff rates now accorded to
the United States will all expire on March /,
1893 our agreement Of 1900 will necessarily
expire on that date, unless sooner terminated.
AMERICAN TRADE WITH GERMANY.
The Importance OF the United States 10 Ger
man foreign commerce is seen from the fact
thai this country holds first rank among the
nations from which Germany receives its i'm
ports and third rank among countries Of desti-
nation Of German exports while in the foreign
commerce Of the United States Germany is
second only TO Great Britain both in the ex-
port and import trade.
The total exports Of Germany TO foreign coun-
tries increased from S75600OO00 in 1891. the
year Of the adoption Of commercial treaties to
s. 243 100000 in the year 1904. showing an in
crease Of about 60 per cent In the same Pc
rioa the imports from Germany into the United
States Increased from S97.O000oO in the fiscal
year 1891 10 SlO9OG0O00 in 1904. or about u
per cent. The imports from this country into
Germany increased il the same years from
gq6Oooo00 10 nearly 1925 100000 or more than
l2s per cent.
a table Is given, similar 10 that printed in
The Tribune Of August !. presenting the value
of some Of the principal articles imported into
Germany from the United States in the cal
eadar year 1864 the rates OF duty at which
they are now admitted 10 Germany. and tho
so-caued autonomous" and conventional"
rates 70 20 into effect on March l. 1906 The
latter rates apply 10 imports from all countries
which by that date have concluded new com
mercial reciprocity treaties conventions
with Germany or TO which the most favored
nation" treatment may be accorded. while the
sgtonomous" rates VIII apply TO imports from
sn other countries.
COTTON AND COPPER
II appears that cotton and copper. the two
most important articles in American export
trade with Germany. nearly one-half in value
OF me total imports into Germany from this
country. viii continue TO be admitted free Of
outE The same is true Of fertilizers. furs and
i0r SKINS. rosin and turpentine. and oil cake
sno OIL cake meal-au Of which Germany will
continue 10 admit free under the autonomous
AZ Vel as under the conventional tariffs. be-
cause tnese products are required in her indus
cieut quantities