The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-07-02
UNITED STATES TRADE
WITH LATIN AMERICA

Trade of the United States with her
Latin-Amerlcan neighbors aggregates
more than COO million dollars In the fiscal
year ending with the present week,
against but little more than 230 million
dollars a decade ago. The total commerce
with all Latin America in the fiscal year
1897 was but 23i million dollars In value.
In the fiscal year 1907 IL will show approxi-
mately go millions. In this figure is In
cluded the trade with Porto Rico. not now
considered as foreign commerce but en-
titled to be considered I'm this calculation.
which compares the figures OF 1907 with
those of 1897. a date when Porto Rico was
foreign country.
OF the more than COO million dollars
which the trade with Latin America viii
aggregate in the year just ending. ap-
proximately $50 millions will be imports
and $50 millions will be exports, still in
cluding I'm these figures the trade with
Porto Rico. These figures for 1907 are
based upon complete returns for eleven
months and an estimate for June, the
twelfth month of the fiscal year. Ac-
oepting this estimate as an approximate
measurement OF the trade with Latin
America. in 1907. II may be said that the
total imports from all Latin America
show an increase OF 1S2 per cent. over
those from the same area In 1897, while
the exports TO those countries show an In
crease or 2l2 per cent.
The growth in trade with Latin Ameri-
can countries has been more rapid than
with many other sections OF the world.
and in both imports and exports the per-
centage of increase Is greater than that
with the remainder OF the commercial
world. Imports from Latin America in
1907 are. above Indicated 1872 per cent.
greater than those of q decade ago, while
those from all other countries combined
are but rs per cent. greater than a decade
ago. Exports TO all of Latin America in
1907 are 2l2 per cent. more than in 1897.
while those TO all other countries are but
eS per cent. greater than in 1897.
In this term "Latin-American" countries
are included Mexico, Central America all
of South America except the British and
Dutch Guanas. and all of the West In
dian islands except those under British,
Dutch. or Danish control
The principal countries with which this
growth in our trade occurs are Argentina,
Brazil and Chile, in South America Cen
trail America as whole, Mexico, Cuba
and the island of Porto Rico, the latter
not now included In the statistics Of for
eign commerce OF the United States. but
included in this statement, which COM
pares with trade conditions with Latin
America at the present time, with those
of decade ago. when the figures OF our
trade with Porto Rico were Included with
Imports from Argentina have increased
from 10& million dollars in 1897 TO ap-
proximately II millions in 1907. a growth
of about 60 per cent. while the exports 10
Argentina have increased from 1-3 mil
lions In 1897 to approximately S2ia millions
in 1907. a gain OF more than 400 per cent.
From Brazil the imports have grown
from 60 millions in 1897 to more than 100
millions in 1907. an increase OF a little
less than 80 per cent, while the exports
to Brazil have grown from 12h millions
20 over Is millions, an increase of n little
more than "a per cent. From Chile the
imports have Increased from 3% millions
in 1897 to about 17ik millions in 1907, while
20 that country the exports have increased
from slightly more than 2h millions TO
practically 9lR millions. From Mexico the
imports have grown from 1sla millions in
1897 to approximately 81 millions In 1907.
an increase OF about 200 per cent. and the
exports thereto from 23ia millions to about
s. millions, an increase OF 175 per cent.
From Cuba the imports have grown from
1sh millions In 1897 TO approximately ~
millions I'm 1907, an increase OF about 400
per cent while the exports thereto have
grown from SA millions 10 approximately
10 millions. an increase Of nearly 500 per
cent From Porto Rico imports have
grown from n little more than million
dollars in 1897 10 considerably more thon
% millions In 1917, an Increase of about
1000 per cent while the exports thereto
have grown from slightly less than 2
millions In 1897 TO practically ~ millions
I'm 1907. an increase OF about 110o per cent.
From Central America as whole the I'm
ports have grown from Sis millions I'm 1897
10 little more than i5 millions in 1907.
an increase OF NJ per cent. and the ex-
ports thereto from slightly less than 3
millions In 1897 To 25ik millions I'm 1907. an
apparent increase of about 225 per cent.
though Il is proper 10 add that the group
Central America" now includes Panama.
60 which large shipments are being made
for canal purposes. white IN 1897 Parnma.
then n part OF Colombia was not included
I'm the group Of Central American states.
The trade OF the United States with
Latin American countries will. In 1907, In
nearly all cases. make IT'S highest record.
both as 70 imports and exports
The increase In importations from the
Latin n-American countries occurs chiefly
in few great articles. while the increase
In expectations thereto r. distributed
among large number OF articles. chiefly
ma nufacftirea