East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-09-25
PROMOTING TRADE WITH
SOUTH AMERICA is AIM
OF THE UNITED STATES
"REMONING THE BARRIERS" is
IMPORTANT TASK TO BE
ACCOMPLISHED.
shipping Documents Presents n Very
Troublesome Question to Those
Who Are Trying to Open Up the
Avenues Of Commerce With Our
southern Neighbors,

I Removing the barriers is the i'm
4 portant task set before those who
are acting in behalf of the United
States in the effort 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 at
tention in proportion to its actual
magnitude is that of the insignificant
but extremely troublesome question
Of the form of the shipping docu-
ments.
AS required by many Of the Latin
American countries, these offer
complicated problem to the exporters
in the United States, who have not
been fully and accurately instructed
on the subject. The bureau of for
eign and domestic commerce has ur-
dertaken the responsibility of remov-
ing this barrier by making it posi-
BILE for American shippers to obtain
information regarding these require
ments which has not ben easily avail
able in the past
The difficulties encountered are
rully appreciated by American export
ers who have attempted to ship their
goods without the assistance of a
commission house or customs broker
They have found an embarrassing
obstacle in the fines provided for ev-
cry possible deviation from the pre-
scribed customs regulations, which
are very detailed as to the informa-
ton to be included in the documents.
Numerous instances have been re-
ported where fines were imposed for
such slight Irregularities as the fall
ure to state the nationality of the
vessel in the invoice, the use of ditto
marks, or incorrect translation of the
description Of the goods included in
the shipment. AS a result American
exporters have had the unpleasant
experience of refunding fines to the
eonsignees of their goods, with incl
lental delay of proceedings which
mas tended to impede the extension
IF trade that is strongly desired at
he present time.
The bureau of foreign and domes-
ic commerce has just issued a S. &
age pamphlet, Consular Regula-
ions Of Foreign Countries Canada d
nd Latin America)" Tariff Series t
20. "a. which contains a complete
description of the shipping docu- t
nents required in each Of the coun- C
ries where difficulties have been en- 0
and copies Of this pubH- c
alton may be obtained from the su-
erintendent of documents, Washing f
on. D. C.. at 10 cents each. This P
guide book" for American exporters. 4
S it may be called, gives facsimilies t
+ the consular invoices used in each c
the countries, and points to such n
ecular features as may be over a
,oked by the average shipper. b
The material has been compiled "
.lth great care. the chapter for each u
1untry having been submitted for re- n
ision to a consular representative Of e
nat country Some American bank q
.g institutions and commission
ouses have also been consulted, and +
Il possible efforts made to meet the
tuaton disclosed by the numerous
1mplaints that have reached the Of
ces OF the bureau at Washington. u
il is believed that by using tho n
ublication. the average exporter in y
IFS country win be able to prepare n
Is shipping documents with suffi- h