Evening star., 1919-11-09


registration of American trade marks
and trade names in Brazil without
the authorization of the owners in
the United States. Among the marks
so registered have been included also
several generic terms not register
able In the United States and various
geographical names, such as "Syra-
cuse." One firm in Rio de Janeiro is
reported to have registered since July,
1919. more than fifty American trade
marks, including several widely used
in the United States and in the ex-
port trade.
The bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce has sent notices to the own
ers Of these marks
Imitation of in order that they
Trade Marks. m might take steps
tration cancelled. AS trademark ap-
plcatlons are not published in Brazil
until the marks have been registered.
however, it is usually impossible to
enter opposition in time to prevent
registration being granted In addi-
t1on the Brazilian law permits the
nrst applicant to register any mark
ana cancellation of registrations once
granted is difficult and expensive.
American firms exporting trade
marked goods to Brazil are urged to
protect themselves against such
fraudulent registration by securing
registration of valuable marks in
their own names.
Just now, when Belgium is in sore
need OF all the building materials. the
lean products, it is particularly un-
fortunate that the present exchange
rates have a decidedly deterrent ef-
1eet Belgian purchasers of Ameri-
can goods are compelled to pay a
premium OF 72 per cent under the
large addition to the f. o. b. factory
price or to the C. i. I. price in Ant
werp is a sufficient barrier to the
importation of goods not vitality
needed for the feeding of Belgium or
for the rehabilitation of the more es-
sential Industries, Trade Commission
er c. e. Herring at Brussels reports
to the Department of Commerce. To
this must also be added a further
increase due to the Belgian method
OF calculating import duties.
The Belgian importer is obliged to
pay duty calculated on the exchange
rate prevailing
Belgian Trade on date of clear
Hit by Exchange. sba S ,t.ouen % NJ =
Goods arriving at a Belgian custom
house a considerable time after open
ing OF credits in New York or after
the receipt of shipping documents
may accordingly be subject to a con-
siderable increase in duties because
OF the subsequent rise in exchange.
While exchange between Belgium
and Great Britain is not quite SO abb
normal as the ratio between francs
and dollars, 1t may be said that Brit
ish export trade is handicapped al
most as much in that respect as that
Of the United States The status of
the third great Industrial and ex-
porting nation Is greatly improved
Dy present exchange conditions, so
that whatever sentimental objections
Belgian merchants may have to re-
suminE trade with Germany there is
great commercial advantage in OBJ
tanning necessary supplies from their
recent enemies.
At the present rate of exchange, for
example. the Belgian importer of
paper goods would pay 14S per cent
more for the privilege of PURCHASING
his supplies in the United States s
rather than in Germany He would
lose 73 per cent by reason Of the
higher rate of dollar exchanee and
ne should gain IS per cent by pur-
chasing mark exchange. He would
sustain supplementary loss on ac-
United States products. while he
would make corresponding gain in
the case OF German imports because
or the probable further decline of
the mark.
Where raw materials purcha sed
abroad are an important item in pro-
duction it seems probable
German that for some time Ger
Exports. man. man export .por: prices must
the United States and Great Rr;t.
ain. American manufacturers should
therefore. have a comparative advan-
tage In costs of production, which TO
some extent would offset the flisad.
vantage OF the present exchange rate
Even making liberal allowances tor
price increases in Germany. however
6elgian importers will probably And
/. more profitable to purchase there
until they are able to buy dollars at
ngure considerably nearer par.
American trade representatives. in
south Africa report that the parcel post
agreement between these two countries
Is hailed in business circles as big
incentive and aid to commerce. It
will greatly facilitate the ship
ment of samples to agents in
South Africa, which is the purpose
for which a long effort has been made
to establish such service. 1t also will
expedite the shipment of merchandise
OF small! bulk. The rate from the
Union of South Africa to the United
States is 1s cents per pound, and
from the United States to South Africa
~ cents per pound. with cents de-
livery fee to the consignee. Those
who are prospecting foreign trade be-
lieve that South Africa is going to
figure large in the commerce of the
United States from now on
4
Among the local markets which are
showing an unexpected avidity for
American merchandise
Colombian is Cali. Colombia, which
n.. the experts in the Latin
American division of the
bureau of foreign and domestic COM
merce Believe is a good example of
how South American countries will
absorb practically all the surplus
production that the United States can
send to them. Trade Commissioner P.
L. Bell, in Tunaco. after an extensive
personal investigation reports that
notwithstanding large orders for gen.
eral merchandise placed in the United
States by the leading wholesale i'm
porting houses following general re-
action of economic conditions in the
spring of 1919. resulting from the very
favorable coffee market, there is a
brisk demand now for clothing, leath-
er goods, toilet articles. hats. sta
tionery, paints, fancy dry goods,
kitchenware. All imported goods are
repacked at Cali for mule transpor-
tation to the interior.