Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-22
FRANCE ALSO TO
CHANGE TARIFFS
UNITED STATES VITALITY CON-
CERHED IN PLANS
PRESENT BILL AS OFFERED IS
MUCH OPPOSED
Chamber of Deputies Drafts Measure
Which VIII Seriously Affect Amer-
lean Manufacturers II It
Is Adopted
IRy Assoclatea Press. ]

tention of American manufacturers VIII
not for the next few months be entire
ly focused upon tho proposed tariff re-
vision in this country. France pro-
poses to revise it's tariff and In the
changes to be made the United States
is vitality interested. II the proposed
French tariff bill should be enacted
into law in its present shape American
trade would be injuriously affected.
Contrary to the usual custom the
measure had it's origin in the tariff
committee of the French chamber or
deputies, and the attitude of the gov
eminent toward 1t, therefore, has not
formally been defined in parliament.
The probabilities are, however, that
the bill will undergo number Of
changes before 1t finally is enacted into
law, which, 1t is expected, Will be
about the first part of next year.
Some interesting facts in regard to
the new measure are Cleaned from q
compilation entitled proposed New
Customs Tariff of France" prepared
by N. l. Stone, tariff expert of the de-
partment of commerce and labor, the
object of which Is to indicate the pro-
posed changes of tariff rates on goods
which the United States either exports
to France or could export under Ia
vorable conditions.
Articles Affected
Taking up the articles covered by
the existing Franco American agree
ment 1t Is found that the following are
affected by the proposed changes:
Canned meats-It is proposed to adj
vance the general rate Of 20 francs per
100 kilos to 80 francs, an increase or
SO per cent, while leaving the minimum
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 adj
United at the rate of 2 francs per lou
kilos. 1t is proposed to advance inc
minimum rate to 5 francs, an increase
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
existing agreement lead to its abro-
cation 1t would result in an increase
from the present minimum rate OF
francs 10 the new general rate of 8
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 As to 80
francs per 100 kilos.
Far more numerous are the tariff
changes on articles which are not af-
fected by the commercial agreement at
this country.
Guided by Differences
In proposing the many changes the
French commission was guided by the
object of making the difference be-
tween the general and the minimum
rates about so per cent on the average,
being considerably higher than the diff
ference in the present tariff, the pur-
pose being to make 1t worth while for
foreign countries to negotiate recipro-
city treaties for the application 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 injuriousiy inn
ports from the United States only and
would still further aggravate the dis
advantages under which American
products must compete with products
from other countries in the French
market.
Among the more important of these
changes the following may be men,
toned, the rate being given in francs
per 100 kilos: Meat extracts, general
rate increased from 40 to As francs;
cotton seed, now admitted free, to be
subject to duty of 1850 francs; pea
nuts, now admitted free, to be subject
to a duty of ESQ francs, and preserved
vegetables. duty increased from 20 to
"a francs.
Affects U. S. Commerce
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 q reduction of the
minimum rates which are applicable to
imports from favored countries AS
instances of such changes the follow
ing may be mentioned: Heavy agricul-
tural machinery weighing over 400
kilos, for which 1t is proposed to in
crease the general rate from Is to 16
francs per 100 kilos, while reducing the
minimum from 9 to s; detached parts
of copper and brass, weighing one to
ten kilos apiece, for which 1t Is pro-
posed to raise the present general rate
of so francs to $3.50, while reducing
the minimum rate of 40 to 80.
1t is proposed, however, in a large
number of cases to reduce the general
rates, while leaving the minimum I'M
changed. The effect of this would be
to lessen to some extent the disadvan-
tages under which American manufac-
turers have to compete at present with
other foreign goods in France.
Among the more important changes
of this kind may be mentioned electric
apparatus of various kinds and refrig-
orators, ETC.. the reductions ranging
from 20 to 40 per cent, according to
weight. n
Important Changes
Among the changes affecting both the
general and the minimum rates, the
following are the most important:
Hams, present>.general rate SO francs,
proposed 60, minimum 30 proposed 40
cotton seed oil. linseed oil and peanut
OIL present general rate francs, pro-
posed 25, minimum g. proposed IA; pig
iron, proposed increase In general
rates of so per cent and over, increase
in minimum rates of 33 per cent and
over; iron and steel ingots, blooms,
bars and billets, increases under the
general tariff ranging from 25 per cent
to 900 per cent, and in the minimum
tariff up to 800 per cent and over.
Similar increases are proposed for
sheet and hoop iron and steel, locomo-
tives, sewing machines, machine tools,
iron and steel cables, etc, increases
ranging from Is per cent to 200 per
cent under the general and as high as
$50 per cent under the minimum Mo-
tor boats, pneumatic tires, scientific in
struments and apparatus and photo
graphic apparatus, which are free I'M
der the present tariff, are to be dutiabie
at is per cent ad valorem under the
minimum.
Tax on Typewrjters
Typewriters. at present dutiable as
toys at the rate of rs francs under the
general and so francs under the min
imum per 100 kilos. it is proposed to tax
at the rate OF rs francs under the gen.
eral and so francs under the minimum