The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-09-14
removal
Of Trade Barriers In Latin
America

Washington, ID. c., Sept. 10-"Re-
moving the barriers" is the important
task set before those who are acting in
behalf of the United States in the ef.
forts to increase the volume of trade
between North and Central and South
America, and one barrier to which it
has been found necessary to give
vast amount of attention in proportion
to its actual magnitude is that of the
insignificant but extremely trouble.
some question Of the form of the ship
ping documents.
AS required by many of the Latin
American countries, these offer com
plicated problem to the exporters in
the United States, who have not been
fully and accurately instructed on the
subject. The Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce has undertaken
the responsibility of removing this
barrier by making it possible for
American shippers to obtain informa-
ton regarding these requirements
which has not been easily available in
the past.
The difficulties encountered are full.
ly appreciated by American exporters
who have attempted to ship their
goods without the assistance of com
| mission house or customs broker. They
have found an embarrassing obstacle
in the fines provided for every possible
deviation from the prescribed customs
regulations, which are very detailed as
to the information to be included in
the documents.
Numerous instances have been re-
ported where fines were imposed for
such slight irregularities as the fail
ure to state the nationality of the ves-
sci in the invoice, the use of ditto
marks, or incorrect translation of the
designation of the goods included in
| the shipment. AS result American ex-
porters have had the unpleasant exper-
| ience Of refunding fines to the consign-
| ees of their goods, with incidental de-
lay of proceedings which has tended
to impede the extension of trade that
is strongly desired at the present time.
The Bureau of Foreign and Domes-
| tic Commerce has just issued 66-page
pamphlet, Consular Regulations OF
| Foreign Countries Canada and Latin
America)," Tariff Series No. "a, which
contains complete description of the
shipping documents required in each
of the countries where difficulties have
been encountered, and copies of this
publication may be obtained from the
Superintendent of Documents, Wash
ington, D. c., at 1 cents each. This
guide book" for American exporters
as it may be called, gives facsimiles
of the consular invoices used in each
of the countries, and points to such pc
culiar features as may be overlooked
by the average shipper.
The material has been compiled
with great care, the chapter for each
country having been submitted for re
vision to a consular representative OF
that country. Some American banking
institutions and commission houses
have also been consulted, and all pos
sible efforts made to meet the situa
tion disclosed by the numerous com
plants that have reached the Offices
of the Bureau at Washington.
It is believd that by using the pub
lication the average exporter in this
country will be able to prepare his
shipping documents with sufficient
knowledge of the requirements te
avoid the fines and delays of the past