Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1909-03-22
NEW FRENCH TARIFF
INTERESTING TO
AMERICANS
II the Bill Is Enacted as Pro.
posed It win Damage
Industries
Here.
FORCE COUNTRIES
TO RECIPROCITY
France Proposes to Make Import.
ant Changes In Duty on Ar
tlCles Not Covered
Already by
Treaty.

Washington, ID. c.. March 22---The
attention of American manufacturers
VIII not for the next few months be
entirely focused upon the proposed
tariff revision in this country. France
proposes to revise its tariff and in
the changes to be made the United
States is vitally interested. IL the pro-
posed French tariff bill should be
enacted into law in it's present shape,
American trade would be injuriously
affected.
Contrary to the usual custom, the
measure had its origin in the tar
in committee of the French cham
Der of deputies and the attitude of
the government toward 1t, therefore,
has not formally been defined in par
lament. The probabilities are, how.
ever. that the bill win undergo
Lumber of changes before 1t finally is
enacted into law, IL IL expected, will
Fe about the first parataf next year.
Some interesting facts in regard to
the new measure are CLEANED from a
compilation entitled Proposed new
customs tariff of France" prepared
by y. l. Stone, tariff expert of the
department of commerce and labor,
the object of which is to indicate
the proposed changes of tariff rates
on goods which the United states
either exports to France or could eX-
port under favorable conditions.
Taking upon the articles covered
by the existing Franco-American
agreement 1t is found that the fol-
l., L., Il
changes. Canned meats--It Is pro-
posed to advance the general rate of
20 francs per 100 kilos to 30 francs,
an increase Of so per cent. while leav-
ing the minimum rate of 10 francs
unchanged. While the agreement re-
mains in force, the proposed change
would, therefore, not affect American
canned meats.
Fresh apples and pears-Under the
existing agreement these fruits are
admitted at the rate OF , francs per
100 kilos. 1t is proposed to advance
the minimum rate 10 . francs, an in
crease of $50 per cent, and to in
crease the general rate from to s
francs. should the increase of these
and the other minimum rates COW
cred by the existing agreement lead
to it's abrogation, it would result in
an increase from the present mini
mum rate of francs TO the new gem
eral rate OF 8 francs. which would
raise the duty fourfold. It is pro-
posed to increase the minimum rate
on hops from 80 to 40 francs and
the general from 45 to so francs per
100 kiios.
Far more numerous are the tariff
changes on articles which are not
affected by the commercial agree
ment at present in force between
France and this country In propos-
ing the many changes, the French
commission was guided by the object
OF making the difference between the
general and the minimum rates about
so per cent On the average, being con-
siderably higher than the difference
m the present tariff, the purpose be-
ing to make It worth while for for
eign countries TO negotiate reciprocity
treaties for the application OF the
minimum rates.
As all the important commercial
countries except the United states
enjoy the benefit OF the entire min
imum tariff in France, the changes
already mentioned would affect in
luriously imports from the United
States only and would stlll further
aggravate the disadvantages under
which American products must COM
pete with products from other coun-
tries In the French market Among
the more important Of these changes
the following may be mentioned the
rate being given in francs per 100
FilOs: Meat extracts. general rate
increased from 50 TO 45 francs; cot
ton seed, now admitted free 10 be
subject 10 a duty Of $50 francs: pea
ruts, nov admitted free 10 be sub
ject TO a duty Of ESQ francs and
preserved vegetables, duty increased
from % to "a francs.
Even more disadvantage6us to
American trade are the proposed