The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-09-23
Suggestion Made for Meet
ing After War Com
petition
REPORT TO NATIONAL
TRADE COUNCIL
The United States Should Be
Ready for the New
Conditions

New York, Sept. 2S.-Greater elasticity
in the countrys tariff system is neces'
sary TO meet trade conditions which will
arise at the close OF the European war,
according to a report submitted TO the
national foreign trade council Thursday
BY committee which has investigated
the foreign trade aspects Of the tariff
Calling attention to the readiustment
of the tariff relations at the close of the
conflict and the possibility that the pres
emit belligerents will seek reciprocal tar
if concessions from one another and
from neutrals, the committees report
continues:
"All European nations will with peace
have large market to offer and may be
expected to yield it only for opportuni-
ties to extend or protect from discrim-
nation their foreign trade. The United
States is normally the best customer Of
the United Kingdom and is one of the
most profitable markets for France, Ger
many and all the other belligerents.
with the exception of the United
Kingdom all the belligerents have, in
their tariff systems, ample resources for
negotiations for tariff advantages and
for retaliation against discrimination,
"The foregoing circumstances show the
necessity for greater elasticity than now
obtained in the American tariff system,
regardless of whether the tariff is main
tanned for protection or for revenue or
partially for each. II is obvious that the
United States should have some method
of readiusting the tariff TO new condi-
tions created by political or commercial
changes on the part of our competitors
and our customers, without resorting to
a general revision The creation Of the
tariff commission should contribute TO
this end"
The national foreign trade council held
its third annual meeting Thursday with
James A. Farrell, president of the United
States Steel corporation, presiding. Mr..
Farrell urged a friendly readjustment Of
commercial returns by the United States
and European nations without resort to
trade wars.
Following the reading Of the commit
tees report, the council adopted reso-
luton directing that, in view OF threat
ened changes by commercial treaties and
tariff regulations in foreign trade after
the war, the council bring to the atten
tion of the president, Congress and the
tariff commission when organized "the
necessity that the American tariff sys
tenn shall possess adequate resources for |
the encouragement of the foreign trade
of the United States by commercial treat |
les or agreements OF executive conces
sions within defined limits and its pro-
lection from undue discrimination in the
markets of the world"
1t was further resolved that the coun-
ell should continue its investigation of !
the European economic alliances upon
the foreign trade OF the United States |
and make report thereon to the presi- |
dent, Congress or tariff commission.
The council decided to call a national |
foreign trade convention to meet in
Pittsburg late in January, 1917, to con
slider policies for safeguarding American
commerce and to promote greater pros
perity through foreign trade
The organization will cooperate with
governmental agencies by placing before
the federal trade commission. the ship
ping board, the tariff commission and the
federal reserve board all the information
it gathers through its own efforts.