New-York tribune., 1906-03-23
FOREIGN TRADE TENDENCIES.

In a bulletin recently issued by the Bureau
of Statistics Of the Department Of Commerce
and Labor attention is called to certain condl-
tions which are radically affecting our status
both as a seller and a purchaser in the world $
markets Prior to 1890 our foreign trade lacked
elasticity and variety. 1t followed a single well
worn channel-tle route across the Atlantic TO
Northern Europe. Europe was virtually our
only customer. We sent abroad foodstulfs pro-
visions cotton and other raw materials, and i'm
ported in return manufactured goods and lux
ures As late as 1887 50 per cent of our eX-
ports were invoiced to Europe OF our imports
we bought about 30 per cent from Europe-al-
most entirely in manufactures. We had to pur-
chase sugar, tea, coffee and rubber from the
tropical and sub-tropical countries to the south
Of us or from the Orient But in the world
wide sense our foreign commerce was scattering
and inconsiderable.
The great industrial development Of the last
two decades has materially altered our CONNER
ciaI relations with the outside world. Our ex-
ports have doubled in value since 1890 and our
imports have increased by 90 or 20 per cent.
But these increases have not been made along
the old lines. While expanding our trade we
have greatly broadened and diversified it. We
sell more to Europe than ever. Our yearly eX-
ports to European countries since 1000 have
averaged $1,OJOOOO0OO in value. But we are
with Asia, Africa, South and North America.
The percentage of European sales fell from so
in 1887 TO - in 1902 and to G723 in 1903 AS
late as 1900 our exports to all sections Of the
world other than Europe were valued at S3J4,-
100000 But in 1905 our nOn-EurOpean trade
amounted to S49S,O0O0 0O0-a gain in five years
of 40 per cent In imports the same tendencies
are shown. Although our imports as a whole
have increased by 60 to 20 per cent, the per-
!
declined. Prior to 1890 it was % in 1900 it fell
| to 80 and in 1903 to 4S4. But our importations
Of tropical and sub-tropcal products have more
! than doubled III value since 1880. In that year
they were S21SOOOOOO, in 1890 $3O3, 100000 and
! in 1908 $JOSOOO0OO
These readjustments in our trade relations are
easily explained. We are ceasng to be a coun-
! try whose only stock in international trade is Il
surplus of foodstuTs and materials. We
are consuming more and more of our own food
supplies and turning our raw materials into
! finished products. II our export trade with
| Europe is expanding, it is because we are send
! ing larger quantities Of manufactured goods to
European countries. In 1903 our sales Of man
! vfacures to Europe reached the value Of S239.-
/ 100000. Outside Europe our manufacturers are
also finding broadening market and as we de
| yelop our industries we shall turn more and
more for outlets TO the countries which sell us
raw materials and have no great manufacturing
! interests of their own. The more our commerce
| is varied the faster it will grow. For nearly n
| century the United States has had to fight the
mistaken notion-held by one of its sections
that our natural destiny was 10 be Il grower Of
raw materials for the European manufacturer.
/ We have at last vanquished that theory bv
/ demonstrating our capacity to manufacture
| goods ourselves and to sell them in the worlds
markets; and we have only TO press forward
vigorously to establish beyond question our new
status as an all-round factor in international
] trade