The Washington herald., 1911-01-19
South American Trade.

1t is very evidently not ship subsidies
that are needed to increase our trade with
South America. AS We all know. there
are plenty of ships of all nations eager
and willing to carry any American mer-
chandise to South American ports at
rates which. being strongly competitive
are as low as our merchants might rea-
n entirely different direction. Take the
case of Brazil, for instance. Brazil is
making decided and specific overtures for
American trad. From our Ambassador
10 that country We learn that the Bra
lillian executive has been authorized by
the Brazilian Congress to grant, during
the year 1911. reduction of so per cent
of the regular duties in favor of Ameri-
can flour. instead Of the preference of %
per cent hitherto granted.
our trade with Brazil is of constantly
growing Importance. Last year Ie i'm
ported over l00.0oooO pounds of rubber
FRONT there, on which the exporters enjoy
tn" advantage of a - per cent prefer
initial tariff. and yet of goods manufac-
.ured from rubber American merchants
sell less than l. per cent of the total
IMPORTS OF Brazil. OF imports aggregat-
nS S,S3."c" last year, only $1,000 worth
we're bought in the United States The
failure to sell American goods in Brazil
$ due not 10 any lack of ships in which
20 carry the wares but is due solely to
The lack of understanding on the part of
American manufacturers. The whole
matter is thoroughly explained by Vice
consul General to Rio Janeiro Mr..
Slechta, who, writing to the Department
IF Commerce and Labor with especial
reference to the growing demand for au-
:omobile supplies, says:
"One needs but to spend half hour
n visit to the shops where. for in
stance, automobile supplies are displayed
to understand why so few American
goods are sold. 1t is impossible to buy
American-made tires in Rio Janeiro. be-
cause none are offered for sale. unless II
De an occasional set re-exported from
France or England. Automobile ac-
:essories imported into Brazil now AMOUNT
o $4,000 annually. and the United States
furnishes about $1,000 worth of these
They are sold here by European houses
almost exclusively. generally by the
agents of various European automobiles
The fact that motors used are principally
European is also A disadvantage to Amer
can tire manufacturers. but one which
,ould he easily overcome IL Americans
would place themselves in a position
properly to compete. There is a similar
situation with reference to rubber hose
''or use in the fire department and else
where. American exports of rubber
foods to this country consist mainly of
druggists sundries and similar goods
constituting the less important share OF
he trade"
This report from South America is
itrikingly similar to the report we Ret
rom our foreign consuls everywhere
There seems to be on the part of the
American manufacturer and merchan,
IN utter lack Of consideration of the needs
and demands Of the foreign trade. Either
se win NOT comply with the financial
onditions that hold in foreign countries
n We will not pack and ship our goods
accordance with established custom
70 long az we wantonly choose TO neglect
hese essentials Of foreign trade, thefl
litfls MS Or wisdom n salktss sbep,