The Washington herald., 1910-02-04
SETTLE TARIFF ISSUE
United States and Germany
Exchange Minimums.
BOTH COUNTRIES ARE PLEASED
Volume of Trade Estimated at $780,
100000 "A Year I'm Statement Made
Public Yesterday by Secretary of
State Knox, Explaining the Terms.
Tariff War Has Been AVerted.

Tariff negotiations between the United
States and Germany. which have been
pending for several months, have been
concluded satisfactorily to both govern
ments The United states viii obtain not
only the German minimum rates now en-
joyed under the special agreement that
expires on February 7, but will receive
also the benefit Of all the minimum rates
of the German tariff now accorded to
foreign governments.
In return Germany will receive the min
imum tariff rates Of the Payne-Aidrich
act after March 81 next. when the maxi
mum and minimum features Of the Amer
lean law viii become operative. Incl
dcntally. the successful outcome Of the
present negotiations is diplomatic tri-
Umph for Secretary OF State Knox.
The fact that a tariff war has been
averted is especially gratifying 20 Off
GERS of the State and Treasury depart
ments, because Of the fact that IN the
calendar year just ended the direct inter-
change of commodities between the
Si09,101OOo. Allowing for importations
into Germany through other countries.
the volume OF trade between the two
countries Is estimated at about $500. 10000.
Exchange Of Sfinimuma.
In announcing the conclusion Of the
negotiations. Secretary Knox made this
statement:
The basis OF the settlement IS that
Germany grants 10 the United States
her full conventional tariff rates IN TO
turn for the minimum tariff OF the Unit
cd States, This f. an exchange Of mini
mum for minimum. II places tie United
States on exactly the same terms as all
other countries % which Germany grants
conventional rates under her various com
mercial conventions or most-favored-
nation treaties.
In the Presidents opinion the respon-
sIbilities devolved on him by the Payne
Aldrich act require from all countries
grant 10 the United States Of substan-
TALLY their lowest tariff rates.
The satisfactory solution has been in a
large measure due TO the friendly and
conciliatory spirit Of the German govern
ment. II was recognized on both sides
that. while IN the variety and complexity
Of modern commercial conditions some
points Of divergence between two great
commercial nations would be encountered.
their nature was not such as 10 preclude
an agreement which would be beneficial
in the mutual markets
NO objection is made TO microscopic
inspection by foreign countries. but the
insistence on certificates of microscopic
inspection from the United States and the
failure to recognize the present interstate
inspection, which was substituted for II.
was a bar TO the admission Of these
products into some Of the German ports
The reasOnableness OF this position has
been recognized by the German govern
ment, and under the agreement concluded
the imperial authorities will take steps
70 modify the present regulations under
which customs officials at some ports have
refused to admit American pork products
without certificates of microscopic inspec-
ton, thus securing uniformity.
THE scope Of the negotiations covered
the discussion Of all the various dues-
tons that have in recent years vexed the
exporters OF both countries. The admis-
sion Of American live cattle for slaughter
in Germany and the regulations relating
TO the Importation Of meat products of
various kinds. the German customs rules
governing the drawback of duty allowed
on -four when eXported from Gerr,ar,,
all of which are of exceeding interest
from the American standpoint. have been
treated on their merits as questions en-
tirely aside from that Of equivalent tariff
adjustment"