Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-07
FRENCH RECIPROCITY
DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE SIGNED
BEFORE TOMORROW.

Owing to the difficulty experienced in
satisfactorily arranging the text of the
reciprocity agreement between France
ana the United States. it was not ex-
pected at the State Department that the
document would be ready for signature
before tomorrow. An erroneous impress
sion appears to prevail in some quarters
as to the extent of the concessions to be
MADE by France in return for the abate-
ment Of duty by 20 per cent on cham
pagnes imported into the United States.
AS matter of fact the agreement con-
templates no increase of the present list
OF American products, to which the
French minimum tariff rates of duty are
to be applied. The French government.
however has for long time past per-
mltted certain American staples such as
petroleum "a very important article of
trade with France) and Porto Rican cof-
Zee 20 enjoy the minimum tariff rates in
expectation of concessions by the United
states, not only in the matter of lower
duties on champagnes, but of the abate-
ment or the rigors of customs administra-
ton, as in the case of the application of
excessive duty by means of hostile clas-
sidcation upon Limoges pottery. AS a
further reason for the concession to
france Of reduced duties on champagnes
the fact is recalled that at the time Mr..
agreement 1t was understood that should
1t thereafter be determined to permit any
other nation to secure lower duties on
champagne. then France should be given
an opportunity to share in the reduction.
An important feature of the new ar
rangement Is the provision for a joint
commission to carefully study and con-
slider questions affecting the trade with
France and the United States. That COM
mission is to give particular attention to
the methods 0f administration fhp
custom laws in both countries so far as
they affect the mutual trade. The effort
is to be made to pave the way for the
restoration of the American meat trade
with France, now practically paralyzed. 1t
Is felt that not only in the case of the
difference of opinion as to the sufficiency
of the microscopic test for packed meats,
but also as to the admission Of live cattle
into France, both by sea and overland
into Switzerland, will such a commission
be able to do great good. On the other
hand the application of the pure food law
to French alimentary products is working
great hardship. Insistence upon exact
adherence to minor requirements in the
matter Of labels and the exclusion from
food products of pleasing dyes that have
become almost trademark in the case
Of certain French canned and bottled
goods are particularly annoying to the
French exporters, while on the other
hand, the rigid enforcement of French
DEGREES unjustly stamping as unfit for
food American fruit containing only a
trace of sulphurous acid, and sausage and
preserved meats with small quantities of
borax contained. has worked havoc with
large American trade interests. The pro-
posed commission is expected to do much
to remove the cause of complaint in most
of these cases-immediately in the case
of regulations admitting of administrative
amendment. and as soon as possible
where Congress must be called upon to
change the tariff and food laws.