New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-28
TRADE RELATIONS WITH CANADA

parbaDs t,.e most difficult trade ar
rangement 10 negotiate under the 'ei hHo
OF the Observation-Disclosures secuoh u
the PAYNE tariff law is that WITH Cah-
oda now under consideration Dy the
Stata nenariment. The difficulty arises
from Canada's peculiar tariff system
and from her apparent lnslstehce on d
Dolicv of reciprocity in detah, WHICH,
scarcely any other country or SEMI
independent sovereignty with which the
Tinted States has to deal thinks 1t ad-
visable 10 pursue Canada has tariff
echema with four scales of duties. Inc
lowest rate is given to Great Britain
and the British colonies and depenueh-
cips 4 second rate is allowed 10
France. under the terms of RECIPROCITY
convention and whatever concessions
France enjoys go also to eighteen other
countries with which Great Britain, act
ing for Canada. formally negotiated
most favored nation treaties. linen
there is the ordinary tariff, which ap-
Mics 10 countries with which there are
no favored nation treaties outstanding.
This class includes. among others, GER
many, Belgium, Italy and the tnted
States. An additional maximum rate OF
33l-3 per cent ad valorem is levied on
the productS of countries which diScrlm-
mate in their tariffs against Canadian
imports
Canada is thus pretty thoroughly COM
mitted to the programme of dealing
with each nation on separate basis. 1t
maintains that it exchanges favors for
favors. and having given various coun-
tries concessions and received subStan-
tial benefits in return il cannot he ex-
uected 10 admit the United States to
lis markets on the best terms given 10
any other nation simply because the
United States refrainS from imposing
maximum duties on Canadian products.
What Canada asks for is a special rec:-
Drocity arrangement. But that is just
The sort of arrangement which the
United States is unable TO make and
which. in accepting the theory of the
maximum minimum section of the
Payne tariff law, we have expressly
determined 10 be against our general
trade policy.
The Canadian theory of individual
reciprocity would. if adopted by US lead
10 endless confusion in our tariff syS-
lem If We made special trade agree
mentS with all the different nations
we might have from forty TO fifty yaria
tons in the duty on given product.
II would bc impossible to arrange
scheme of rates which would bring IN
4 consistent revenue: for with so many
trade arrangements in force. all subject
10 change on relatively short notice.
there would be no sure means Of eSti-
mating the return from customs duties.
nor would there lac any assurance pf
equal and adequate protection 10 Amer
lean products coming into competition
with foreign commodities imported at so
many varying rates. This scheme of
piecemeal reciprocity was once clio
quently advocated by Ex-Governor Will
lam L. Douglas of Massachusetts and
other Democratic leaders in that state.
who saw in il the easiest way to trade
agreement of some sort with Canada.
They never stopped to consider that
tariff subject TO forty or fifty modifica-
lions through reciprocity treaties would
he no tariff at all, and that q really
simpler way TO secure the entry at any
cost of foreign commodities would be
ia abolish both protective and revenue
duties outright
The United States cannot well afford
10 abandon the principle for which it
row stands-that of equality in COM
nlerciai treatment. We are ready 10
give every country the same advantages
IN trade with us that its rivals enjoy, and
exact only in return that we shall be
treated by every other nation as fairly
a our rivals are. We cannot go back
ia the old scheme of separate dickering
for special concessions. Canada's plan
does not suit us. nor can the United
States he blamed for maintaining that
il is entitled 10 the same status in the
Canadian market as is France or any
other Of the most favored nations sn
Canada list. if we admit Canadian
products ut no higher rates than are
imposed on the products of any other
nation.
II is to be hoped that Washington
and Ottawa can come 10 an agreement
before the end of March. 1t is to the