The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-03-23
PROPOSED NEW
FRENCH TARIFF
Many Provisions Of New Customs
Measure unfavorable to Com
mercal interests.
By Associated Press.

entirely focused upon the proposed
tariff revision in this country. Franc,
proposes to revise its tariff and in the
changes to be made the United States
is vitality interested. If the proposed
French tariff bill should be enacted
into law in its present shape, Ameri
can trade would be injuriously effect
ed.
Contrary TO the usual custom, the
measure had its origin in the tariff
committee of the French chamber oi
deputies, and the attitude of the gov
ernment toward it, therefore, has moi
formally been defined in parliament
The probabilities are. however, that
the bin win undergo a number OF
changes before it finally is enacted in
to law which, it is expected, will be
about the first part of next year.
Some interesting facts in regard tc
the new measure are CLEANED from q
compilation entitled Proposed new
customs tariff of France prepared by
~ l. Stone, tariff expert of the depart
ment of commerce and labor, the OBJ
ject of which is to indicate the propos
ed changes of tariff rates on goods
which the United States either exports
to France or could under favorable
conditions.
Taking upon the articles covered by
the existing France-American agree
ment it is found that the following are
affected by the proposed changes.
Canned meats-It is proposed to ad-
vance the general rate of 20 francs
per 100 kiles to 80 francs, an increase
of 80 per cent. while leaving the min
imum rate of Is francs unchanged.
While 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
admitted at the rate of francs per
100 kiles. 1t is proposed to advance
the minimum rate of 5 francs, an in
crease of $50 per cent, and to increase
the general rate from to francs
Should the increase of these and the
other minimum rates covered by the
ovictipU aoraamantc laad 70 itc ,bro
cation, it would result in an increase
from the present minimum rate of 2
francs to the lew general rate of s
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 45 to
so francs per 100 kiles.
Far more numerous are the tariff
changes on articles which are not af-
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 considerably
higher than the difference in the pres
ent tariff, the purpose being to make
t worth while for foreign countries
% negotiate reciprocity treaties for the
application of the minimum rates
As all the important commercial
except the United States en-
oy the benefits of the entire minimum
ariff in France. the changes already
mentioned would affect injuriously i'm
,orts from the United States only, and |
would still further aggravate the dis
advantages under which American |
PRODUCTS must compete with products
rom other countries in the French |
markets. Among the more important |
f these changes the following may |
'e mentioned, the rate being given in
rancs per 100 kiles. Meat extracts,
.eneral rate increased from 40 to As /
rancs: cotton seed, now admitted
rec. to be subject to a duty of 15O
rancs. peanuts, now admitted free. to
e subject to a duty Of 25O francs and
reserved vegetables. duty increased
rom 20 to "A francs.
Even more disadvantageous to Am
rican trade are the proposed changes
Thich. while increasing the general
ates to which American goods are
ubject, contemplate a reduction of
ne minimum rates which are appli-
able to imports from favored coun-
les. AS instances of such changes
le following may be mentioned
eavy agricultural machinery weight
lg over 200 kiles, for which it is pro-
osed to increase the general rate
ON IS to 16 francs per 100 kiles,
hile reducing the minimum from 3
8; detached parts of copper and
Continued on Page A.