Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-19
No Most Favored Nation.

1HeTS Is no treaty HioSN-
favored-nation' clause in existence between
the United States and the German empire
The most favored ma ton treaty of 1929
was concluded between the United States
and Prussia. Treaties containing similar
clause We're concluded with the n inseat
republics of Lubbock. Bremen and Hamburg
in 1877 and the kingdom OF Hanover III
1916.
Under the present German tariff imports
from the United States have been subject
to the lower conventional set OF duties,
at first under the so-cailed Saratoga con
vention' of 1892, and later by virtue of the
commercial agreement between the lhitea
States and Germany of July TO- fOo ny
the terms Of the latter agreement TINS
country was granted the conventional rates
of duties fixed by the commercial treatleS
of 1S91-1s94 between Germany and the
seven countries mentioned above IN con-
sderation of the reduction of duties, au-
thorized by section 3 of the Dingley act OF
1897 on ARGOS, brandies, wines paintings
and statuary imported from Germany into
the United States. This agreement may be
terminated by either country at any time
upon giving three months notice; ana as
the treaties of 1S91-1S94 with the ahoVe-
named countries which govern the tarin
rates row accorded to us will ali expire
on March l. 1906. our agreement OF $500
will necessarily expire on that date, uhieSs
sooner terminated.
..The Importance OF the United States To
German foreign commerce is seen from the
fact that this country holds hrst rank
among the nations from winch ,TerMahy
receives its imports and third rank among
countries of destination Of German exports.
while in the foreign commerce OF the
United States Germany Is second on y 10
Great Britain both in the export ana IN
port trade. =. s.,.o,.,,
..The total exports OF Germany to foreign
countries Increased from 1856, 100000 in 1851,
the wear of the adoption of conmctciaI
treaties. $l243. 100000 in the year i"i'
showing an increase OF about u per ~ -
Durirg the same period the imports from
Germany into the United states lhcreaaeo
from sG7 coo $50 in the fiscal year 1891 10
s109 0Go eco In 1904, or about IL per cent. Inc
imports from this country INTO eas; ,,
increased in the same years from s9SsTt''V2o
TO nearly s225 900. 600, or more than Ia per
cent.
Some Principal Articles.
"a table presents the value of some
OF the principal articles imported INTO
Germany from the United States during the
calendar year 19c4 the rates OF duty at
which they are now admitted to Germany
and the so-cal!ed autonomous and cohVeii-
tionaP rates to go into effect on March l.
1896 The latter rates apply to imports from
all countries which by that gate VIII nave
concluded new commercial! RECIPROCITY treat
les or convent ions with Germany, or 10
which the most favored nation treat ment
may be accorded, while the autonomous
rates will apply 10 imports from al other
countries.
1T will be seen from the table, which is
referred to- that cotton and copper. the
two NEST important articles in our ex-
port trade with Germany, nearly one-halt
in value Of the total imports, INTO Ger
many from this country, will continue
to be admitted free OF duty. The same
Is true of fertilizers. furs and fur skins,
rosin and turpentfne, and oil cake ana OIL
cake meal-all OF which Germany VIII con-
tinue to admit free under the autonomous
as well as under the conventional tarlHs,
because these products are required IN her
Industries and cannot be produced at nome
IN sufficient quantities.
I'm the of a number OF products
each constituting an important Item In the
import trade OF Germany with the United
States. the conventions with the above
named countries do not affect the autono-
nous rates. Among these are leather. the
increases of duty on which, as compared
with the existing rates, range from 40 TO 81
per cent. according to Quality; cotton-seed
oil. with the duty raised p per cent for oil
made unfit for consumption (denatured).
and GA per cent for oil tit for human con-
sumption; bacon, with an Increase or duty
of 90 per cent: tallow, - per cent; SO wing
machines 45 GER cent; typewriters. 100 per
cent; lumber, from 81 per cent to 100 per
cent, according to kind, etc. The CONNER
| cial treaties of Germany with the seven
countries mentioned above have not affected
| these rates. partly for the reason that those
| countries are not SO much interested In the
trade In these products as Is the United
States.
Show Some Reduction.
| Then follows the table alluded to OF arti-
Giles and rates, and the bulletin goes on
| to say:
| "As for the other products enumerated
the new conventional rates show some re-
| auctions as compared with the autonomous
| rates but they are in most cases conso-
| erably higher than the existing rates.
| LAS Illustrations of this may be mention
| ed the increases of rates of duty on pre-
] pared beef. which amount to 252 per cent
| under the new autonomous and 1oo per cent
| under the new conventional tariffs, as COM
| pared with the existing tariff. cycles, with
| the respective increases of duty of 523 per
| cen, and $40 per cent; -four, 15S per cent
| and 40 per cent. etc.
In the event of tariff war section 10 of
| the new German tariff law authorizes the
| government to impose surtaxes in addition
| 10 the autonomous rates, follows:
Section IL. Dutiable goods proceeding
from states that treat German ships or
products less favorabiy than those of other
| nations may. without prejudice to the tariff
duties be burdened with surtax ranging
| up to 100 per cent OF the tariff duty lmpos-
ed OH such goods, or even with a sartax
| equivalent to the total value of the goods
| themselves Goods free of duty In virtue
| t,a