The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-22

it is found that the following are af-
fected by the proposed changes:
Canned meats-It is proposed to ad-
vance the general rate of 20 francs per
100 kilos TO 30 francs, an increase of 80
per cent, while leaving the minimum
rate of Is francs unchanged. While the
the agreement remains in force, the
proposed change would, therefore, not
affect American canned meats.
Fresh apples and pears-Under the
existing agreement these fruits are ad-
mitted at the rate of francs per 100
kilos. 1t is proposed to advance the
minimum rate to ) francs. an increase
Of $50 per cent. and to increase the gen
eral rate from tc francs. Should
the increase of these and the other mimi
mum rates covered by the existing
agreement lead to its abrogation, it
would result in an increase from the
present minimum rate of francs to
the new general rate of francs, which
would raise the duty fourfold. 1t is
proposed to increase the minimum rate
on hops from 30 to 40 francs and the
general from 40 to so francs per 100
kilos.
For Purpose of Reciprocity.
Far more numerous are the tariff
fected by the commercial agreement at
present in force between France and
this country. In proposing the many
changes, the French commission was
guided by the object of making the
difference between the general and the
minimum rates about 80 per cent on the
average, being considera bly, higher than
the difference in the present tariff, the
purpose being TO make il worth while
for foreign countries to negotiate re-
CipToCity treaties for the application of
of the minimum rates.
As all the important commercial
countries except the United States en-
joy the benefit of the entire minimum
tariff in France, the changes already
mentioned would affect injuriously i'm
ports from the United States only, and
would still further aggravate the dis
advantages under which American pro-
ducts must compete with products from
other countries i'm the French market
Among the more important of these
changes. the following may be men,
toned. the rate being given in francs
per 100 IiIos:
Meat extracts, general rate increased
from 30 to 40 francs: cotton seed, now
admitted free, to be subject to a duty
of 1.50 francs; peanuts. now admitted
49, ~ W -uBIttN 10 d uUtN ui --tU
francs, and preserved vegetables, duty
increased from 20 to "a francs.
Lower Minimum Rates.
Even more disadvantageoUs to Amer
lean trade are the proposed changes
which, while increasing the general
rates to which American goods are sub
jeCt, contemplate a reduction Of the
minimum rates which are applica BILE to
imports from favored countries. As in
stances of such changes the following
may be mentioned: Heavy agricul-
tural machinery weighing over 400 kilos
for which it is proposed to increase the
general rate from 10 to is francs per 100
kilos. while reducing the minimum from
9 10 S; detached parts of copper and
brass, weighing 1 to 10 kilos apiece, for
which it is proposed TO raise the present
general rate of 30 francs to $3.50. while
reducing the minimum rate of 40 to 50.
1t is proposed, however, in a large
number of cases to reduce the general
rates, while leaving the minimum un-
changed. The effect Of this would be to
lessen to some extent the disadvantages
under which American manufacturers
have to compete at present with other
foreign goods in France. Among the
more important changes of this kind
may De mentioned electric apparatus {
Of various kinds from 20 to 40 per cent, /
according to weight Among the I
changes affecting both the general and /
the minimum rates, the following are 4
the most important: Hams, present /
general rate so francs, proposed so: 1
minimum 90. proposed 30; cotton seed |
oil. iinseed oil and peanut oil. present /
general rate s francs, proposed %. mini /
mum s, proposed IA; pig iron, proposed /
increase in general rates of 30 per cent !
and over; increase in minimum rates of /
80 per cent and over; iron and steel in /
gots. blooms, bars and billets. increases /
under the general tariff ranging from /
20 per cent to 600 per cent, and in the !
minimum tariff up to 500 per cent and I,
over.